Cork re-asserted themselves with their victory over Kildare on Sunday, producing the kind of clinical performance we haven't seen from them since the early of the 2009 campaign. Cork won their All-Ireland in 2010 playing arguably the worst football we had seen from that team, but they seem to be back to their best now and they bring a physicality no other team can match. In many ways, I see Cork, when the play their game, as a better version of what Dublin are. Cork have the same size, strength and physicality to overpower their opponents, but they possess far more skilled footballers than Dublin. This balance is the key to why Cork will be All-Ireland favourites with most bookmakers this morning. Cork's strength in midfield is sets them apart from their challengers. Aidan Walsh is probably the best centrefielder in the country right now, and he showing again yesterday the impact he can have on a game. Cork showed a ruthlessness yesterday that they might have been lacking in the past, and if they continue to play with such confidence, it's difficult to see how any team might beat them.
Cork's next opponents, Donegal, were almost equally impressive in quarter-final action. For sixty-five minutes yesterday, Donegal gave a masterclass in how play defend, that Kerry supporters will have found eerily reminiscent of the Tyrone team of 2003. Despite that comparison, Donegal yesterday reminded me more of a different Tyrone vintage, with their overall performance. The 2005 class. That 2005 team, was Tyrone football at its zenith, playing a groundbreaking brand of football in which every man was an attacker when the team had possession, and every man was a defender when possession was lost. We saw flashes of such a style yesterday from Donegal, though they will need to produce a seventy-minute performance of that calibre if they're to see of Cork in the semi-final. Colm McFadden put in a masterful performance yesterday, and one which Donegal badly needed. McFadden struggled against Dublin in last year's semi-final, so it was nice to see him atone for that yesterday. Donegal will need him to be at his very best again the next day out. Despite the class Donegal showed yesterday, I do have a couple of major worries for them heading into the semi-final. In the final few minutes of yesterday's game, Kerry final exposed the one minor flaw in the Tír Chonaill men's defensive armour. Over the last two years, it's become abundantly clear that trying to play though the packed Donegal defence is a futile exercise. The will get men back in numbers and they do an incredible job of forcing turnovers. They way to beat them, is route one. When Kerry finally played long, high ball into Kieran Donaghy, they reaped the benefits. If Cork take heed of this, they could well cause the Donegal full-back line some serious problems. The second worry for Donegal, will be the physical presence that Cork bring to the game. Donegal have proven themselves to be one of the fittest teams in the country, with the relentless approach they take to every game. That said, they ran out of steam last year against Dublin, and this Cork team will inspire many of the same problems. Donegal may be a better team this year that last, but this Cork team are also a superior outfit to the Dublin one which won last year's Championship.
As for Dublin, I can't help but feel that they're living on borrowed time. They've flattered to deceive all year and seem to lack the hunger and determination which got them over the finish line - just about - last year. Bernard Brogan has gone back hugely since his Footballer of the Year season. He's no longer playing like a guy you can depend of for 4-6 points a game, and yet Dublin are still looking to him to fill that role. With Bernard misfiring, Dublin lack quality scoring forwards. Diurmuid Connolly cannot seem to stay on the field and continues to frustrate with his inconsistent play. Connolly has the potential to be one the best forwards in the country but he often seems to lack focus, and his discipline has of course, been an issue. The news that Alan Brogan may miss the semi-final is also very worrying given that he acts as Dublin's playmaker from the half-forward line. Without him, the Dubs will struggle to find scores, and Eoghan O'Gara is most certainly not the answer. In the backs, Dublin are strong and they won't make things easy for opposing forward lines, but they have been indisciplined at times, and the can't afford to give away too many frees against Mayo, as Cillian O'Connor is more than capable of taking full advantage. It will take a massive improvement from Dublin if they're to make their second successive All-Ireland final, but despite the negatives if mentioned, they are certainly capable of raising their game, especially at Croke Park. The semi-final will be the occasion that Bernard Brogan needs to step-up and really prove that he still warrants the hype that surrounds him.
Mayo on the other hand will go into the semi-final clash on the pack of an excellent display against Down. Mayo's attack was widely criticised after the Connacht final, but they did create plenty of chances against Sligo. The difference on Saturday was that Mayo made the most of those chances. I really like the Mayo midfield and this is where they're greatest strength lies. Aidan O'Shea is developing into a magnificent footballer, and for the most part, when he's on song, Mayo are flying. In the forward line, Alan Dillon remains one of the most underrated footballers in the country. He scores efficiently and is the kind of leader that some of Mayo's younger players need. The key for Mayo in the semi-final, will be how they cope with Dublin's physical presence. If they can get men behind the ball and frustrate Dublin, the champions will resort to pot-shots from long range. Mayo will need to play their strengths by running hard at the Dublin defence. As I mentioned above, Dublin's defenders are not the most discipline in the tackle at times, and if Mayo run at them they will earn score-able frees. I think this could be well be the difference at the end of the day.
No matter the outcomes, we're sure to see two quality semi-finals in the coming weeks. Donegal and Mayo always travel well for the big games, and there'll be hardly a person left in either county come throw-in of their respective games. Cork may be the favourites at this point, but this still looks to be the most wide open championship in years, and the best of it is still yet to come.
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