Can't wait for these games now, being sat over here in Sydney I don't get to see many of the games live, recorded jobs only unfortunately, but am already set up for it today, beers in the fridge, the missus gone home for a few weeks and ready to watch all night - very excited.
So come on then lads, get the predictions out!
Monaghan v Tyrone - backing Tyrone here. I just get the impression that the tighter pitch v Donegal suited Monaghan and that the bigger pitch in HQ will suit Tyrone better. Experience comes into it too, which Tyrone have in spades. Expecting a tough game, hard hits, debate over dangerous tackling and an all round good game of football. Wee nibble at Penrose first goal scorer.
Dublin v Cork - Dubs by a few I think. Expect high scoring game as there are some good quality forwards on both sides. Hoping for an open game and hopefully tight, but reckon Dublin will have too much. Backing Brogan first goal scorer - fancy him to kick on for the business end of the championship now.
Kerry v Cavan - Kerry at a canter. Again, experience is key here. Cavan have had a good year and will still think they should have beaten Monaghan, but this is end of the road for them. Kerry will remain under the radar going into a semi against Dublin, which is exactly where they'll want to be.
Mayo v Donegal - heart says Mayo, head says draw. Too close to call this one, both teams have a few question marks over them going into the game. The winner of this will likely answer a lot of those questions though and will be hard to stop in the semis. The margins at this level are so fine though, I get the impression that they could play this fixture over a series of 3 or 4 games and there'd be feck all in it at the end. Would seriously love to hear McGuinness and Gallagher scrambling for excuses after the game after all the shite talk this week, they've lost a lot of respect in my eyes these last couple of weeks.
What a weekend of football though, pity it's not a bank holiday weekend in Australia!
