If Dublin Defeat Tyrone They Will Have Only Six Days To Prepare For All Ireland Semi Final
Dublin are facing the prospect of just six days to prepare for their championship semi final as the GAA today announced details for the upcoming All Ireland semi finals.
Dublin have one group game left in the Super 8’s against Tyrone in Healy Park in Omagh In Sunday week.
Both sides are already through to the semi finals of this year’s All Ireland championship but the outcome of their game will determine which side finish first and which finishes second in the group.
A win or a draw for Dublin will see them top Group 2 and if that transpires Jim Gavin’s men will have just six days to prepare for their semi final.
If Tyrone win then Dublin will have an extra day to get ready for the penultimate stage of the competition that might seem insignificant but the extra days rest could make a difference.
The fixtures for the All Ireland semi finals are as follows, the winner of Group 2 will face the runner-up in Group 1 at Croke Park on Saturday the 10th of August with the game down for a 5pm throw-in.
Then on Sunday the 11th of August the winners of Group 1 will play the runners-up in Group 2 again in Croke Park with that game to get underway at 3pm.
While the two teams to advance to the All Ireland semi finals from Group 2 are already known, Group 1 sees three teams still vying for the two spots.
Kerry travel to Páirc Tailteann in Navan on the 3rd of August to face a Meath side already eliminated and the men from the Kingdom will be favorites to win that one, but they will have to be on their game as Meath are a difficult team to beat on their own patch.
All eyes though will be fixed on Castlebar and the meeting of Mayo and Donegal on the same day.
Mayo stumbled into the Super 8’s and have looked less than impressive in their two group games to date. Beaten out the gate by Kerry in their first game James Horan’s side came out on top against Meath only due to the men from the Royal County tiring in the last quarter of the game.
Donegal have looked impressive in their two group outings, long gone are the days of their over defensive tactics with Declan Bonner employing a strong running game from deep.
The secured a well deserved point against Kerry the last day out and on current form should be favorites to claim the win over Mayo.
But Mayo have a habit of scraping a win when their backs are to the wall and if it’s a close game heading into the final quarter the men from the West might just pull of another Houdini act and make the semi finals.
All Ireland Semi Final Fixtures (extra-time to be played if necessary)
Saturday, 10 August
Group 2 Winner v Group 1 Runner-up, Croke Park, 5pm
Sunday, 11 August
Group 1 Winner v Group 2 Runner-up, Croke Park, 3pm