GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2013 Quarter Final
1. Monagahan v's Tyrone
Croke Park
Throw In: Saturday 5pm
A unique and historic fixture between these two Northern rivals as it is the first time that they have met at this stage of the competition and also the fact that Monagahan go in to the game as newly crowned Ulster champions. After ending their 25 year wait for silverware Malachy O'Rourke's charges will be in bouyant mood. Looking at the league standings Tyrone should be the warmest of favourites as the Divison 1 runners up take on the Divison 3 champions. A lot of water has passed under the bridge in the meantime and Monaghan are now being touted as potential All Ireland contenders after their dismantling of champions Donegal. Tyrone have responded well through the qualifiers since they failed to last the pace against Donegal in their Ulster Championship opener. The dismissal of Stephen O'Neill against Meath is a significant blow to Tyrone, and if Eoin Lennon and Darren Hughes can tame Sean Kavanagh, who seems to be back to his imperious form of the mid noughties, then their forward line of Kieran Hughes and Conor McManus may just convert enough chances for the Farney men to reach their first All Ireland semi final since 1988.
Verdict: Monaghan
2. Dublin v's Cork
Croke Park
Throw In: Saturday 7pm
A meeting of two of the games traditional heavyweights. It is just a pity for supporters of both counties that it will not be played as a double header with the All Ireland Hurling semi final between both sides also. Cork supporters will be worried at how their team seems to be stuttering through this championship campaign. Manager Conor Counihan has admitted himself that he is unsure as to what his best team is and that seems to have manifested itself in their performances against Kerry and Galway in previous games. A more cynical team than Galway would have closed out the game last weekend when they led by five points entering the final minutes but on the other hand Counihan will be satisfied with how his charges turned the game around when their backs were firmly to the wall. Maybe this fixture against raging hot favourites Dublin is just what his charges need to focus the minds and put in a full 70 minute performance. Dublin, and manager Jim Gavin, on the other hand have a forward line that are working at full throttle and a substitutes bench packed with experience that is the envy of most other counties. However, for the first half against Meath in the Leinster final, holes were being punched in their defence, their midfield struggled to win primary possession and ace forward Bernard Brogan was once more kept under wraps. If Aidan Walsh is moved back out to the middle then Cork may crowd out this area and frustrate the Dubs but on present form, and with Eoin Cadogan in particular struggling, they do not seem to be at the necessary pitch to curtail the overall Dublin scoring threat.
Verdict: Dublin
3. Mayo v's Donegal
Croke Park
Throw In: Sunday 4pm
This game has got top billing and seems to be the standout fixture of the weekend. A repeat of last years All Ireland final where Donegal went for the jugular from the off and seemed to have the game killed off after 15 minutes. Another tale of All Ireland final woe for the Mayo men. How much of the hurt from these All Ireland final losses can they store up before it manifests itself in an explosive series of performances that will carry them all the way to the title. Questions are being raised about how battle hardened they will be going in to this game after their facile run to the Connacht Championship title. They can only beat what is in front of them however and there has been a steely resolve about them since their first round massacring of Galway. The addition of Donie Buckley to their backroom team may also prove to be a very shrewd piece of business. For Jim McGuinness and his Donegal troops they seem to be suffering the same glitch of fate with injuries as the Kilkenny hurlers and this manifested itself in the Ulster Final where they were "out Donegaled" by Monaghan. Their three year record run in the Ulster Championship also seems to have taken some toll on their legs and even though their qualifier victory over Laois last weekend, after the dreaded six day turnaround, must be commended, a team without Mark McHugh and a not fully fit Karl Lacey, is not the same animal. With Andy Moran and Cillian O'Connor back to full fitness and Alan Freeman having an outstanding season in their absence, this may just be Mayo's opportunity to turn the tables on their neighbours outside the pressure bubble atmosphere of an All Ireland Final.
Verdict: Mayo
Pods-itivity Treble: 13/2
Other mention:
A repeat of the the All Ireland semi final of 1997 and the famous All Ireland Final in the Polo Grounds, New York, Kerry v's Cavan may not be seen as a stand out fixture of the weekend but nonetheless it is a game between two traditional footballing counties where blanket defences will be left at the door. This Cavan team have impressed many with their extended championship run to date and the wide spaces of Croke Park may suit their youthful exuberance but Eamon Fitzmaurice and this Kerry team should be clinical enough to exploit any nerves these young palyers will surely be facing
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