Football previews: Galway need a big upswing to defend title while Clare hope for home comforts

Football previews: Galway need a big upswing to defend title while Clare hope for home comfortsGalway’s inability to cope with the athleticism and power of Mayo’s counterattacks has been a feature of the recent reverses and that may be influenced by captain Patrick Durcan’s questionable fitness. Both sides are capable of limiting the other in the marking of go-to forwards: Jack McGrath on Ryan O’Donoghue, David McBrien on Comer and Sam Callinan on Walsh.

Kerry were given plenty to do by Cork in the provincial semi-final before the latter ran out of steam. Mark Fitzgerald has done exceptionally well since succeeding Collins, controversially denied promotion straight back to Division Two and now with a home provincial final, delivered when he poker-faced Kerry into drawing lots for home advantage.

The question for Fitzgerald and his players has been posed as to whether they believe they can win but first, they need to make sure that they don’t underperform through inaccuracies and concentration lapses, a fate that has bedevilled Clare in the past. There’s an optimism about them at the moment but the challenge of Kerry doesn’t change. Jack O’Connor brings back Jason Foley for the champions after injury and Shane Murphy takes over in goal.

Galway-Gaa Mayo-Gaa Clare-Gaa Kerry-Gaa

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