Kerry’s worry is that Galway won’t be bothered

It’s generally accepted that if a team other than Dublin wins the All-Ireland this year then they’re going to have to beat Dublin along the way. Does it really make sense for Galway to try to avoid Dublin in the semi-finals only to most likely run into them in the All-Ireland Final?

Dublin manager Jim Gavin won’t know his team’s semi-final opponent until late on Saturday evening – less than seven days before that semi-final takes place. Dublin still have to get their last Super 8 game out of the way on Sunday afternoon, meaning Gavin and his staff will have just six days to analyse and plan for their opponent. Meet Dublin in the All-Ireland Final and Gavin has three weeks to hatch his plans for you. Of course that works both ways, but which scenario do you think Kevin Walsh would prefer?

Remember, too, that the last time any Dublin team was beaten in Championship football was in an All-Ireland semi-final.

As for the argument that Galway would want to beat Monaghan to carry winning momentum into the following week – well, that doesn’t really matter if all concerned know and appreciate why they have lost the game in question.

Monaghan, of course, travel to Salthill with their Championship lives on the line. Malachy O’Rourke doesn’t need to tell his players what’s at stake here, and we absolutely know that the Monaghan players will throw themselves full long into the game in order to get the result that carries the county to its first All-Ireland semi-final since 1988.

So what if Monaghan are ahead by four or five points heading in the last 10 minutes? How great will Galway’s desire be to leave every last ounce on the field – as they had to do against Kerry and Kildare in their last two games – in order to reel in and beat Monaghan? Will Walsh be asking Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh, Thomas Flynn, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh and the rest of his players to throw the hammer after the hatchet against Monaghan with the prospect of facing the All-Ireland champions a week later, or indeed, a Donegal or Tyrone team that will also present a hugely difficult game for the Tribesmen?

With that in mind Walsh might even consider not playing key men like Comer or Walsh, or if he does start them he could justifiably decide to cut his loses at, say, half-time – regardless of the scoreline in Salthill – and call ashore some key men. Imagine the consternation around the team and county if Comer or Walsh or Flynn picked up an injury chasing down a Monaghan man, or worse still reacted to a provocation and picked up a red card and a suspension ahead of their semi-final.

These are the considerations the Galway management must consider ahead of and during next Saturday’s match.

What Kerry must hope for is that Walsh and his men consider none of them, and just go out and play the game for what it is: a home Championship game that Galway are more than capable of winning if they’ve a mind to. Furthermore, Kerry must then hope that Galway do win the game, thereby dragging the Kingdom into the last four of the Championship almost in spite of themselves.

And what about a draw? Stalemate in Salthill would, of course, keep the status quo at the top of the table with Galway still going through as Group winners with Monaghan through as runners-up. Such a result could lead to suggestions of a cosy arrangement between Galway and Monaghan, and even if nothing has been agreed in advance could either team be blamed if with the teams level on scores after, say 65 minutes, that neither really, properly goes looking for a winning score?

We’re not suggesting for a moment that any two counties would ever be in cahoots on such an arrangement, but anyone who follows the last round or two of any county league in the country will be familiar with how more than a few convenient draws pop up that benefits both teams.

Your enemy’s enemy isn’t necessarily your friend, but on this occasion Kerry will be looking for a favour from Galway against Monaghan. The problem and fear for Kerry, alas, is that so far they’ve been friendless in these Super 8s.