GAELIC GAMES: Summer burned through all the provinces yesterday, and, after the broiling GAA grounds finally cooled, the list of championship football contenders seemed deeper than ever.

On a baking day by the Lee, Kerry confirmed their All-Ireland credentials with a narrow victory over Billy Morgan's reborn Cork team.

Out west, Galway emerged again, young and maroon and promising.

And on Ulster Day in Croke Park, the big two would not yield an inch. The Armagh legend deepens. The Orchard men may or may not be the last men standing come September, but boy, they will not be put down easily.

Tyrone came within touching distance of regaining the Ulster championship on a tense and sweltering afternoon in Croke Park, but they must have crawled off the field wondering if their fierce old rivals have engaged in some pact with the dark side.

Looking down and out, Armagh rallied to produce a 2-8 to 0-14 draw.

Up by four points going into the last minutes, Tyrone became the latest victims of one of those surges of spirit and class that has distinguished this Armagh team out in recent times.

As ever, they found a way, with Steven McDonnell somehow rising to claim a long, floating ball from Oisín McConville and then doing what McDonnell does better than anybody else. The goal was both inevitable and shocking.

The 60,000-strong crowd were suddenly beside themselves and, through the tumult, Paul McGrane rose to fetch the kick-out and serenely banged home the equaliser. It was classic Armagh, bold and heartbreaking.

"It was awful just watching the bloody thing, let alone for the players," declared big Joe Kernan.

La Manga was never so hot. The blazing heat took its toll on the athletes. Peter Canavan did not reappear for the second half. Armagh's strong man, John Toal, was carried off with ligaments. Both are doubtful for the replay, which is back in the capital on Saturday week.

It was a bitter sweet day for Tyrone. Stephen O'Neill fired 10 points but left the field with nothing more than a second chance.

Both counties made it to the final through replays, so perhaps it is appropriate that it will take a second afternoon to decide it.

Elsewhere, events were more straightforward. Kerry and Cork engaged in a terse battle of wills by the Lee, with Morgan's team a different proposition to last year. Declan O'Sullivan broke loose for a goal seven minutes into the second half, and from there the champions had the verve and class to maintain a slender lead.

The game ended on a score of 1-11 to 0-11.

It has been a convincing Munster campaign for the champions, but they have yet to fully ignite. And it will be no surprise if Cork are still hanging around when the last eight get down to business.

In Salthill, the football was slow and the old order shifted again. Peter Ford's Galway team defeated favourites Mayo with a brave and mature performance in a match that will not be remembered as a classic.

The teams seemed affected by the languorous summer weather and there were times when scores just seemed like too much effort.

It was 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, and although the occasion never really came to life, Galway showed flashes that bodes well for their future.

With the defence watertight and Michael Donnellan exhibiting something of his vintage form, Galway have made it to the last eight with very little fuss. It is hard to imagine that any county would relish facing them.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for Mayo after a long, hot day of disappointment for John Maughan and his men. Last year's All-Ireland finalists tried their best to rediscover the verve of last summer, but, with Ciarán McDonald hounded by Paul Clancy, the spark was missing.

The exited the cool, damp dressingroom before anyone noticed them gone and, as someone said, surveying the ghostly room, it was like discovering the Marie Celeste.

But what a memorable afternoon for Peter Ford, who followed on from Galway's recent under-21 success by guiding the senior team to this significant win over his latest county.

Afterwards, it was put to him that he was picking up the silverware fairly rapidly.

"Sure I am in the right county for it," he deadpanned.

If the popular Ballinrobe man is still smiling in September, then Mayo folk will know they are cursed for sure.