The All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals: who's hot and who's not
Galway’s Matthew Thompson is in the midst of a sensational debut season. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
In the last three years of championship, Armagh have only lost two games in regulation time. They suffered defeat against Tyrone in the 2023 Group Stages and to Galway last time out. Their response to an extra-time Ulster final defeat has been immense, topping their group and evolving as a side. A group determined to retain their title.
Kerry are league and Munster champions. A shock loss to Meath was parked with a comfortable Cavan win last weekend.
Diarmuid O’Connor’s chances are bleak after he went off in the first minute due to his ongoing shoulder issue. Barry Dan O’Sullivan is out for the season. Paudie Clifford came in for some valuable minutes. Tony Brosnan and Mike Breen (both hamstring) did not feature against Cavan. Neither did Paul Geaney (shoulder).
Oisín O’Neill did not play against Galway due to an ongoing calf issue. Rory Grugan and Ben Crealey were rested. Barry McCambridge (calf) is a worry having been taken off two weeks ago. Kieran McGeeney said that the All-Star got a stud into the back of his leg and the concern is that a bleed can turn into a tear.
Oisin Conaty is in the running for Player of the Year currently. He has been sensational. David Clifford is another contender. His total is now at 7-37, making him the top scorer in the championship currently. A remarkable 7-27 of that tally is from play.
Ethan Rafferty wrestled the number one jersey back from Blaine Hughes and has excelled this year. His contributions out the field have been a huge weapon. His total currently stands at 0-15, including five two-pointers.
The All-Ireland champions have some big selections calls to make now. An astonishing level of depth means there will be some big calls. Can Niall Grimley force his way back into midfield? Did All-Ireland final hero Joe McElroy do enough against Galway to retain his place?
So much of Kerry’s prospects will depend on their centre-field. Joe O’Connor will be expected to carry an enormous load regardless of who partners him.
Two Armagh men are part of Kerry’s management team. Strength and Conditioning expert Jason McGahan and analyst Colin Trainor will be opposite Kieran Donaghy this weekend.
It’s hard to say. In this wonderfully open All-Ireland championship, almost every team has produced at least one dud. For Dublin, that was against Meath in the Leinster semi-final. Since then they have looked epic and ordinary. Their shooting against Armagh was dire and their conversion was still only 63% versus Cork last Saturday.
Tyrone’s wobble was against Mayo when they were demolished around the middle at home. Otherwise, a credible loss to Armagh and wins over Donegal and Cavan (twice) have lifted the mood after the league relegation.
For Dessie Farrell, it’s all about Con O’Callaghan. The Dublin boss gambled and left his captain on the sideline for the preliminary quarter-final. The Cuala man is dealing with an ongoing hamstring injury but should be fit to start.
The fears in Tyrone are that Michael McKernan is out for the season with a shoulder injury. He was helped off the field against Cavan and has been in a sling ever since.
Two of the best midfield combinations in the country are set to go head-to-head in Croke Park. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne has transformed Dublin’s kickout approach. The 6ft 6in Cuala All-Ireland winner has made the most of the new rules, especially around set pieces. Dublin scored twice from his throw-in wins against Derry. They started the match against Cork in similar fashion. Ciaran Kilkenny has partnered him recently with Killian McGinnis impressing in the half-forward line.
Malachy O’Rourke has repeatedly taken issue with the level of physicality Brian Kennedy has had to deal with in Tyrone’s centre. Conn Kilpatrick has the most assists of any Tyrone player in championship.
It has been a curious campaign for All-Star Niall Morgan. He has scored 0-7, but struggled in the defeats against Mayo and Armagh. Kennedy’s return should make his restarts more manageable. The Tyrone number one previously described Stephen Cluxton as ‘the king’ and a leading free-taker inspiration. Dublin’s struggles from placed balls this season should see them turn their own goalkeeper this weekend too.
2003 was the only time in the modern championship that three Ulster teams reached the All-Ireland semi-finals. That year, Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal and Kerry made up the final four. Tyrone made the breakthrough.
Meath are in a magnificent spot. Robbie Brennan’s outfit have downed Dublin and Kerry already this year and now face a wounded Galway team. This is their third successive game having come through away trips to Breffni Park and Newry. Nevertheless, they are Connacht champions and starting to find some form.
James Conlon has been ruled out for the season with a hamstring tear. This is a issue across the panel. Jack Flynn and Ronan Jones also missed the Kerry game with similar, as did star forward Matthew Costello.
Where to start with Galway? Damien Comer has hardly featured this season, coming on for just a handful of minutes against Roscommon and Derry. Shane Walsh was taken off with a shoulder injury last Sunday.
Step forward, Matthew Thompson. The Salthill-Knocknacarra youngster is in the midst of a sensational debut season. His story is remarkable. A talented underage soccer player, he returned to his club and was spotted in a junior game by then manager, John O’Mahony. By 2023, Thompson was playing U20s for Galway. He went on to become captain in 2024 and is now a mainstay for the seniors. 1-12 scored in the championship and 3-10 created.
For Meath, Ciaran Caulfield has been phenomenal. The DCU-Sigerson Cup winning captain assisted 1-6 against Kerry in a powerhouse display. His weighted pass to Bryan Menton was a reminder of the quality he has if left unmarked.
Galway have a big goalkeeping decision to make. Twice on Sunday, they called for substitute Connor Gleeson to warm up. Conor Flaherty came into the team after the Derry draw.
“We kicked away two, three, four,” Pádraic Joyce post-match.
“We’ve two good keepers in Galway. The wind was really strong as well. Probably Connor Gleeson would have a bit more distance but we didn’t opt to it in the end.
“In fairness to Conor Flaherty, he gathered himself and kicked two or three last kickouts really good.”
In 2000, after Galway’s semi-final win over Kildare, Joyce came down with Viral pneumonia. Manager John O’Mahony sent him to Meath legend and herbalist Seán Boylan. Despite doing very little training, Joyce was declared fit to play and scored six points.
Two sides who will be content with their run so far. Monaghan are Division 2 champions and gave Donegal a rattle in the Ulster semi-final meeting. Gabriel Brannigan evidently has weaponised the idea they were “written off” at the start of the year, as he revealed after they topped their group.
Donegal retained their Ulster crown and recovered from the Tyrone wobble to beat Cavan and Mayo. Their reward was a home preliminary quarter-final, although they now face a tricky six-day turnaround with their quarter-final scheduled for 4.00pm on Saturday.
Donegal will be delighted to have gotten a half into Jason McGee last Sunday. Gary Mohan missed the final group game for the Farney men due to a reported hamstring strain. He had been taken off in Round 2 against Clare.
Michael Murphy is the beating heart of this unit. He catches kickouts, he creates, he scores. His tally for the championship so far is 0-34. Ryan Wylie tried to man-mark him in Clones earlier this year but it is a tough task. Encouragingly for Jim McGuinness, his other inside forwards are starting to catch fire too. Oisin Gallen scored five points against Louth. Conor O’Donnell hit 1-2.
Monaghan’s main creator this campaign has been Conor McCarthy. They do have a fine spread of two-point kickers in Rory Beggan, Jack McCarron, Dessie Ward and Michael Bannigan. That should force Donegal to defend slightly higher in Croke Park.
This is an interesting element of this weekend. HQ will play differently. Recently, while the rest of the country has enjoyed crackers, Croke Park has hosted low-quality games. Teams will have to learn fast how to handle its spacious environment.
Captain Patrick McBrearty has struggled from play recently. He hasn’t scored in his last three outings. His only opportunity was a goal shot in Dr Hyde Park but Colm Reape scrambled back to deny him.
Monaghan are a terrific side going forward, but it does leave them exposed. The only side who topped their group and conceded more was Armagh, who were already qualified before their final game. Despite topping Division 2, they conceded more points than six other teams. Who would a shootout suit on Saturday?
Monaghan are the only team left who have not won an All-Ireland yet.
