Former Kerry All Star Forward Darran O Sullivan sees potential in two county teams, but doesn’t believe they’re quite there yet
We’re nearing the Semi Finals of this year’s All Ireland Senior Football Championship. Three teams are definitely through to the last four before a ball is kicked in the final phase of the Super 8s.
Dublin and Tyrone will square off in their Super 8 Group 2 final clash on August 4th in Omagh. What’s at stake is their finishing positions. Both have won their first two games. They both only need to draw this final game. But that draw will favour Dublin more in terms of score difference, with the Dubs 0-24 the better of their Northern rivals. And of course a win for Tyrone will see them the group and face the runners up of Group 1.
That group hangs slightly in the balance. Kerry are guaranteed to reach the Semi Finals. They’ll finish their Super 8 Triplet against Meath, and will be expected to come out of that on top.
With Donegal and Kerry playing out a draw last weekend, it opened the door for Mayo. They’d been beaten by Kerry in the opening phase. But got past Meath in the phase 2 fixture. Donegal will only need to draw against Mayo, but should Mayo snatch a win, they advance sending Mayo home.
While the game between Donegal and Kerry has been lauded as a truly entertaining and nail biting encounter, and it was. It detracts from the sheer power and simplicity of Dublin’s route in the competition thus far.
Even a loss to Tyrone won’t derail the possibility of lifting Sam Maguire for the fifth successive year. But can any team on the other side of the draw put a dent in Dublin’s juggernaut?
O’Sullivan is definitely of the blue opinion
Newly retired former Kerry Forward Darran O’Sullivan was happy to give his thoughts on the Dublin side speaking to RTE Sport this week.
“They are like a machine.” he admits.
“You could take anyone out of that Dublin team – maybe bar Stephen Cluxton – and nothing changes. Absolutely nothing. They have a system that they play to and it doesn’t matter who starts, they all know their roles.”
“The only team that is going to beat them is themselves,” he said. “It’s when maybe lads start getting cranky that they are not getting on the match-day 26, or getting game time, or for being taken off, that’s the only way I can see them being beaten”.
So while admitting Dublin’s biggest challenge may that of an internal one, he’s also quick to admit that there might not be a team again this year that can stop their process.
“I think Donegal and Kerry have the potential, but that’s all it is at the moment. It’s a year or two maybe away.”
