Kerry find winning ingredients

What Kerry have in their forward line are nearly all the winning ingredients. Colm Cooper and Seán O'Sullivan have been their two big finds this summer, and Cooper has turned out to be the most exciting find of the whole country.

Mike Frank Russell wasn't playing so well early in the year but is now back to his devastating best, and Dara Ó Cinnéide at full forward is their most rejuvenated player of the season.

The Kerry full forwards, in particular, have been their key performers, especially since they've started playing so well. When they've got the supply they've wanted then no one has lived with them. And Ó Cinnéide is not just there for his free-taking anymore. He contributes hugely to their game plan by peeling off the full-forward position, pulling out the full back, and leaving the space inside for Russell and Cooper.

Against Armagh they'll have to deal with a challenge they have not yet experienced this summer. Neither Cork nor Galway were as defensively minded as Armagh, so there won't be as much space there to play with. How they'll react to that will be crucial to Kerry's game, and will probably put more responsibility on the half forwards of O'Sullivan, Eoin Brosnan and Liam Hassett.

Armagh have uncovered their own gem in Ronan Clarke at full forward. He's strong and can run at players, and also holds up possession that fits perfectly into their game plan. The Dublin full-back line were very uncomfortable with him especially as he pulled Paddy Christie out from the edge of the square, which brought a bit of panic into the Dublin defence.

John McEntee's performance the last day also illustrated the new tactics under Joe Kernan in that the half forwards got forward that bit more, and covered more ground. Overall, they're playing with greater flair up front than in previous seasons. Armagh are also using a lot more diagonal ball across the field, and because of their physical strength they can challenge for those balls even if they're not inch perfect.

Oisín McConville is an excellent free-taker and Kerry have been liberal in giving away frees this year, which may prove crucial. Paddy McKeever is also coming into his best form, plus there's Stephen McDonnell doing a lot of damage with the space left inside.

Measuring it on key aspects, Kerry would have a little more pace. Armagh would have a little more physical strength. But Kerry have that bit more on the bench compared to Armagh, most obviously with John Crowley and Aodán MacGearailt. Sometimes the unexpected happens in All-Irelands and if one of the Kerry forwards is having a bad day then one of those two would be well-suited to come in.

Overall, I would say the biggest scoring threat would come from Kerry, but so much of that will depend on what's happening outside.