GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Round 4 Qualifier
1. Cork v's Galway
Croke Park
Throw In: Saturday 5pm
Alan Mulhulland's much criticised Galway side created quite a shock when defeating a free scoring Armagh side in the previous round of the qualifiers. The switch of Paul Conroy from the full forward berth to the middle of the park along with Under 21 player Tom Flynn was a significant move and the confidence from the victory should make them tricky opponents in their search for their first victory in Croke Park since the 2001 All Ireland Final. Yet again this season Conor Counihan's Cork side have been somewhat of an enigma. For forty minutes in the Munster Final against Kerry they were dismal but once the changes were rung they thundered in to the game and the game could have gone either way in the last ten minutes. The management team have made six changes from that game which highlights that the team they finished that game with was probably a more balanced unit. This may yet again prove to be a bogey selection but if the pairing of Pierse O'Neill and Alan O'Connor can dominate around the middle like they are capable of and with the menace of Ciaran Sheehan and Brian Hurley in the full forward line, the Rebels should have enough scoring potential to overpower their western opponents.
Verdict: Cork
GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Quarter Final
2. Kilkenny v's Cork
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Throw In: Sunday 2pm
This game is the meeting of the two most successful counties in the history of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship but their first at this stage of the competition so therefore it should be a gripping encounter. After their defeat against Dublin in the Leinster Final the obituaries were being written about this great Kilkenny team. But boy have they responded in titanic struggles with Tipperary and Waterford. They are showing signs of wear and tear but the two weeks break since their last game will have done them good and given their injured players some extra time to recover. For Cork, the main issue Jimmy Barry-Murphy is likely to have been dealing with is rebuilding his players’ confidence after the Munster final defeat to Limerick. They failed to hit the same heights as they did in their semi-final win over Clare, no doubt the harsh dismissal of Patrick Horgan had an impact, therefore only a return to those performance levels, and more, will do against the Cats. Although the Cork forwards gave the Kilkenny defence the run-around for much of theie league encounter in Nowlan Park earlier this year, the continued loss of defensive lynchpin Brian Murphy from the Cork rearguard may just be the one defining aspect of this game that may swing it in the Kilkenny's favour.
Verdict: Kilkenny
3. Clare v's Galway
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Throw In: Sunday 4pm
Will the real Galway team please stand up? The most consistent part of this Galway team seems to be their inconsistency. To go from minutes of capturing the All Ireland title last September to getting the run around from Dublin in the Leinster Final some weeks back, the Galway faithful must yearn for some consistency from their side. Clare have a good record overall against Galway in the championship and they have won three of their last five encounters against them. After a flat performance against Cork in the Munster semi final, the Bannermen have responded with strong performances in a comprehensive victory over Laois and an extra time victory over Wexford in a game they should have killed off long before the final whistle of normal time. The word on the street is that Galway have closed the doors to their training sessions in recent weeks as they bid to get back into a position to compete at the top level again. With Clare having a major injury worry ahead of the game with talented centre forward Tony Kelly struggling with an eye injury, and Galway backs to the wall and a reaction expected after the Leinster Final defeat, Anthony Cunningham's men may just upset the form book and progress to an All Ireland semi final meeting with Limerick.
Verdict: Galway
Pods-itivity Treble: 5/2
Other Mentions:
GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Round 4 Qualifiers
London's historic efforts so far in the Connacht Championship deserve the reward of a run out in Croke Park for this tie but after their impressive win over Derry last time out, Cavan should bring the curtain down on the Exiles season.
How will All Ireland champions Donegal respond to the dreaded six day turnaround after their surprise loss to Monaghan in the Ulster Final? Although Laois have momentum, and Mark McHugh's loss is a big one, expect a kick from Jim McGuiness' men to overcome this hurdle
The toughest of the four qualifier ties to call is that between Meath and Tyrone. Meath were impressive for forty minutes before fading against Dublin in the Leinster Final. Tyrone have gone about their business with their usual professionalism in the qualifiers and their experience may just see them through in this tussle
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