Kerry sparkle should ignite win

What we have here are two teams of equal quality and impressive range of talent. Both Kerry and Armagh have justifiable claims on this year's All-Ireland title, and even though they've had somewhat contrasting fortunes over the last decade, I expect their desire for success to be very similar.

For Kerry, it's been a case of a three-year yearning to get back to the top. They felt they were tripped up by Kildare in 1998 and even more so against Cork last year, so there's no doubt they will have the hunger to get back on the All-Ireland stage again. They have also refined and improved their team over the last couple of years, changing some of the backroom team by adding John O'Keeffe and Jack O'Connor. And, of course, Paidi O Se has been through it all before.

But Armagh are also a more mature team this year and seem to have focused on this championship with a single-minded approach since their setback against Meath at this stage last year. They basically put the league to one side and never showed any great concern about their form there, and there was also the situation with Crossmaglen and Na Fianna in the club championship, which involved more Armagh players than anyone else.

They are now back refreshed and eager, and perhaps most interestingly, they had players talking about the All-Ireland even before the Ulster final - a bit unusual in the modern game. So they are obviously very determined to build on last year's success.

In terms of form, however, Kerry's first 35 minutes against Cork certainly stands out as most impressive. And most of the judgment on them would have to hang on that game. They did have some fantastic outings in the league but at this stage of the season, that is not a great barometer of form.

Still, if the Kerry we see for 70 minutes tomorrow is that which produced the sort of display for the first half against Cork then one would have to fancy them.

They moved the ball so well in the forwards that day and showed complete dominance in midfield. In some ways, their defence wasn't truly tested and the positioning of Seamus Moynihan will again raise some questions here.

Having said that, there is no lack of quality players in their defence. Moynihan's ability to dictate things may not be as great at full-back, in that he would be picking up a lot of breaks and orchestrating things better at centre back, but he seems to be the only man they can rely on to tie up the full-back line and there's no doubt in my mind he can do that.

Armagh haven't been quite as impressive on route to this game. Tyrone seemed to flounder against them, but they did have a lot of injuries, and Fermanagh certainly gave them a good match.

Yet people haven't given Fermanagh the credit they deserve for they way they've improved over the last couple of years, although Armagh still had the maturity to wear them down even though they were behind by three or four points in the first half.

Their win over Derry was measured and clinical, but the main observation from that game was that Derry didn't play well. Some of that had to do with Armagh, but Derry's forward line never came together and I can't see the Kerry forward line being restricted to the same sort of cul-de-sac as Derry.

Having said that, there is major contrast in styles between these two teams. Armagh will always get players behind the ball, and indeed they have taken that tactic to a new level in recent years. It does tend to squeeze the life out of games at times but of course it has been successful, and that is the bottom line.

That contrasts greatly with Kerry's quick movement of the ball. They play a more traditional style and certainly the more attractive, but what approach will win out on the day will depend on a lot of factors.

First of all, Armagh will have to cope with this Kerry forward line and adapt their style accordingly. I presume they will play a two-man, full-forward line and will get all kinds of people behind the ball, at times playing a five- or six-man, full-back line. That will be an interesting aspect of the game.

Dara O Cinneide has been having a fantastic season while Ger Reid has been doing well for Armagh also, but I suspect Kerry will try to create more space up front.

Armagh are so disciplined mentally and physically that they don't mind slogging it out with teams but if Kerry's all-running game opens them up early on, then Armagh may be chasing the game and may be forced to play a less defensive approach. It would be interesting to see how they would react to that scenario.

But there is no doubt that Armagh have quality all over the field. Kieran McKeeney has been a superb leader of the defence and if you're looking for areas where they have improved this year, I think the two McEntees have been a revelation. Tony was named at midfield but lined out at full-forward the last day - so they can switch around all over the place - and Barry O'Hagan has also been doing very well. Overall I think there has been a greater spread of scoring forwards compared to last year, when Diarmuid Marsden and Oisin McConville were the main providers.

I expect that Marsden will make an appearance very early on if there are any signs of trouble. Unless Armagh are totally dominant, I would find it hard to see him staying on the line past the first 25 minutes because you need your quality players on the field.

There has been some concern over an injury to John Crowley, who I think has played very well for Kerry this year, but, of course, Maurice Fitzgerald is quite a replacement. Overall though, I would give a narrow vote to Kerry on the basis of a few assumptions.

Firstly, their defence will stand up to the test, and secondly their midfield will be more dominant. But perhaps most of all, I expect their forwards will spark on more cylinders than Derry did in the Ulster final and that may prove fatal for Armagh.

Still, Armagh's agenda this season has been to make up for last year and go all the way to All-Ireland success. It won't be a shock if either team go through and the physical strength of Armagh won't make it easy for Kerry, but you have to put your head on the block in these situations and I would have to steer towards Kerry.

In an interview with Ian O'Riordan