10 September 2004 TG4 All-Ireland Semi's - Galway and Dublin tipped Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS GALWAY v MAYO Neither team will lack motivation going into this eagerly contested clash, Mayo want to make it 3 in a row as All-ireland champions and Galway will want to make it 3 in a row of victories over their old rivals. Mayo are still hurting from the beating Galway handed down to them in the Connacht final while Galway after so many defeats in the past from their old foes will want to keep the upper hand over their Connacht Colleagues. If Galway, who have been in fine form this year, do beat Mayo for a third time this season it will be a remarkable feat. They realised their first objective for the year by claiming a first Connacht senior title but PJ Fahys team will want and feel that they can go all the way this year. Galway, though, were not as impressive in the last game against Laois and one worries that the momentum may be slipping from their challenge. However the sight of their old rivals in Green and White should bring back all the fire and commitment that supporters saw throughout the Connacht Championship. Mayo have bounced back in remarkable fashion, beating a strongly fancied young Cork team comprehensively in the quarter-finals to turn their season around. Cora Staunton is back to her best and kicked eight points against Cork but Mayo will need bigger contributions from the other forwards if they are to beat Galway. Galway’s strength is their midfield, where the duo of Annette Clarke and Lisa Cohill have outshone all opposition this year. But Mayo can banish their earlier poor form to reach the final and a crack at a famous three-in-a-row if Staunton can shake off Galway’s Aine Gilmore and others around her notch up a few scores. However Galway’s greater hunger and a feeling of unfinished business should see them through to their first Senior All-Ireland final. KERRY v DUBLIN After a hiding by Cork and a poor Munster Champiosnhip campaign, very little hope was offered for Kerry to progress any further in this years TG4 Champioship. However The Kingdom turned the tables in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Monaghan and were absolutely superb in their defeat of Ulster Champions Monaghan. With devastaing forwards Kacey O’Driscoll, Noreen Fealey and Geraldine Ó Sé in devastating form up front, they racked up an amazing 5-10. For manager Robbie Griffin, revenge is a key motivation after an Angie McNally-inspired Dublin rolled over the Kingdom in last year’s semi-final at the same venue. “Of course we are hoping to go one step further,” says the Gaeltacht native. “We will need to play our best hour’s football this year to do so. Our form has been up and down but we are hopeful.” Kerry are a young stylish team but their style will not be helped by Dublin’s work rate and more physical approach. Dublin, though, were fortunate to win their quarter-final with Donegal but that game will have brought them on significantly. In Angie McNally, Martina Farrell, Fiona Corcoran, Bernie Finlay and Louise Keegan, Dublin have an experienced core of footballers and whose hunger after having an All-Ireland title stripped away by a last second Mayo goal in last years final. If it is an open game Kerry’s talent may just shine through but semi-finals are usually tight affairs and Dublin’s greater experience and desire to reach another final should edge them through. Share this Article 0 0