More than one game in winner-takes-all tie

The traditional powers of Dublin and Kerry surely saw the path to Sam Maguire open up in front of them after last Saturday's results. The credentials of the other four teams are strong, particularly Mayo's, but victory in tomorrow's main event will generate a momentum that could end up on the steps of the Hogan Stand in September.

Kerry selector Ger O'Keeffe knows as well as anybody how to out-fox Dublin, but the removal of Ulster's erstwhile finest finest means the favourites tag becomes even heavier around his county's neck.

"It must be remembered that it took very good teams to beat Tyrone and Armagh," says O'Keeffe, "Kerry may be favourites, but there are no more one-hit wonders. Every team left have professional trainers, professional manager, fitness trainers and weights programs. Kerry just have to take their place like everybody else. Fermanagh's win was a surprise, but it did not surprise the manager and players in Fermanagh."

O'Keeffe, being a wise Kerryman, also sees the pitfalls. "Every team has a chance now. Dublin will be looking to this match with nothing to lose. They have had four matches now with a nice time element between them and have gradually improved.

Every game now is about which side has the greater hunger."

Anthony Tohill summed it up well, when backed into a corner by Pat Spillane on the Sunday Game last week: "If Moynihan's fit Kerry to win. If not, Dublin."

Tommy Lyons' side received an obvious advantage with the announcement that the Kerry talisman is a non-runner, but a look at his replacement reveals a superior strength in depth. Although Marc Ó Sé may not have the same influence as Moynihan, he is an able replacement.

Kerry have also been been stripped bare at midfield with the loss of Donal Daly, Séamus Scanlon and Tommy Griffin, yet they could still promote an unknown quantity in Paddy Kelly from the under-21s, ahead of the more experienced Micheál Quirke. A luxury Dublin could only dream of at centerfield.

"Paddy Kelly is a surprise, I thought maybe Liam Hassett would come back in," admits Dublin selector Paddy Canning, "but we know a bit about him as I saw him when I was over the minors a few years back and we played Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. I also saw him playing for the under-21s last year."

Tommy Lyons had a couple of defensive conundrums to sort out when he sat down with his Dublin selectors last night to piece together his team. Although it should be largely similar to what has been seen in the qualifiers, either Shane Ryan or Peadar Andrews may be too tempting to leave on the bench.

Motivating Dublin players to play Kerry is never going to be a difficult task, especially now as the All-Ireland title becomes a clear target.

"Kerry are still the best team in terms of individual players anyway," warns Canning. "Okay, it's different than in the last two years as two of the more difficult teams are gone, but after last week Kerry will be even more wary of us.

"There is no outstanding team left so there is an incentive if we can over this, albeit massive, hurdle - yeah, there is an opportunity this year."

Since crashing out of Leinster, Dublin's progress to the quarter-finals has been fairly smooth. They rejigged the line-up and, despite the Longford and Roscommon attackers asking questions of their defence, they have looked like contenders.

Of course, Kerry forwards will require serious supervision, especially the two baby-faced assassins (Mike Frank Russell and Colm Cooper) in the corners.

"In general, as a unit our defence will have to mark a bit tighter to compete with the Kerry forwards," says Canning.

The crucial test of the summer has finally arrived for Dublin.