All-Ireland SFC semi-final weekend is upon us and here we preview the two mega clashes taking place at Croke Park.

 

Saturday, August 10th

All-Ireland SFC semi-final

Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, 5pm - RTE/Sky

All roads lead to Croke Park on Saturday evening as Dublin and Mayo battle it out for a place in the All-Ireland final on September 1st.

There’s huge excitement ahead of the 16th championship meeting between these two counties as Mayo look to upset 5/1 odds and foil the Dubs’ bid for an historic five-in-a-row.

The holders have cruised to this stage whereas their western counterparts have largely laboured, with last weekend's hard fought win over Donegal in Castlebar coming at a cost in the form of Jason Doherty’s season.

Mayo county board confirmed the Burrishoole’s cruciate injury during the week, adding to the list for James Horan while his counterpart Jim Gavin could afford to rest more than a dozen first team regulars in Omagh the same Bank Holiday weekend.

Some of the best footballers in the country will be on display at headquarters, where the holders haven’t been upset in the championship since the 2014 semi-final loss to Donegal.

The Connacht side are certainly capable of tearing up the script but, given the formbook so far this summer, it’s difficult to envision the champions falling to them on this occasion.

Verdict: Dublin 

 

Sunday, August 11th

All-Ireland SFC semi-final

Kerry v Tyrone, Croke Park, 3.30pm - RTE/Sky

These two cross swords in the championship for the first time since 2015 when they met on the very same stage.

It was Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Kerry that emerged victorious on that occasion and the bookies have the Kingdom coming through here as well, making them 4/5 favourites for Sunday’s showdown at Croker.

Former Tyrone captain Sean Cavanagh disagrees however, writing in his Irish Daily Star column this week with an inkling that Mickey Harte’s men will have too much physically for a young Kerry side.

Whether the three-time All-Ireland winner is bang on with his prediction remains to be seen, but we should be in for an intriguing contest and one that could end up going right down to the wire.

Cathal McShane and Mattie Donnelly will be the two aces in the Red Hands’ pack which a so far unconvincing Kerry defence have to contend with, while at the other end David Clifford, Paul Geaney and Sean O’Shea carry much of the Munster champions’ threat.

It should be a cracker!

Verdict: Tyrone  

Join the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for live coverage of the All-Ireland football semi-finals.

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