Hungry, angry and injured - but beware Kerry

Kerry are unlikely to be caught unawares by the potent threat of Armagh when the counties meet in the knockout stages of the All-Ireland SFC for a second consecutive year, according to Enda McGinley, while the Kingdom's surprise loss to Meath in the round-robin stage should leave them razor-sharp as they head to Croke Park.

McGinley was joined by Tomás Ó Sé on RTÉ's GAA Podcast to look ahead to this weekend's quarter-final action at HQ, with much of the spotlight being hogged by the two sides that met in the semi-finals during the last campaign.

Armagh were dark horses who upset the odds in a 1-18 to 1-16 win over Kerry after extra-time in last year's semis, but are disputing favouritism with Donegal this time around as they bid to defend Sam Maguire.

If there was the suspicion Jack O'Connor's charges took Kieran McGeeney's men a little too lightly last time around, such a scenario is unlikely to unfold on Sunday.

"I think Kerry's eyes were slightly off the ball," McGinley said of the 2024 semi-final. "I don't think they were 100% there and they got caught, similar to Tyrone beating them in 2021. I don't think Kerry's eyes were fully on Tyrone.

"In 2023, Kerry repaid Tyrone in spades. Kerry turned up hungry and angry and absolutely destroyed Tyrone in 2023.

"Do I think Kerry can win? Absolutely.

"I can't wait for this game.

"The thing I'm most fascinated about as a coach or a manager trying to look at the game is that Kerry love to kick that ball. Armagh love to find the arc and set up defensively and kill off that ball.

"Can Armagh's retreat to the arc be fast enough to kill the space around Clifford, [faster] than the Kerry kickpassing game, and them finding Clifford?

"Those moments will be maybe three, four or five in each half and that alone could well decide this game.

"I'm going to love seeing how much Armagh go forward, how aggressively they attack, how open they leave their own defence, how readily they have someone set up to get back and try and kill off that space, kill off those long passes, because Kerry's most threatening approach play is well signposted.

"It would look a tactic you can absolutely shut down or that you can do significant damage with if you set yourself up appropriately and Armagh are so shrewd that I expect Kerry to get that test.

"So Kerry's plan A is phenomenal but what is their plan B and how will that hold up with their injuries?"

Mike Breen and Diarmuid O'Connor are absentees for Kerry, while Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney are only fit enough to start from the bench.

That news emerged on Thursday night after the podcast had been recorded, but Kerry's injury woes were already at the forefront of Ó Sé's mind.

Firstly addressing the Orchard County's strengths, Ó Sé said: "They're extremely well-coached. They have players to slot in, they have strength in depth, they have pace, they have physicality. They have the maverick side of it with Rian O'Neill back and a bit of unpredictability there.

"I think that they're very organised on their own kick-outs. I think they don't panic when they're down. I think they have a lot of ammunition in their locker, and I think that Kerry's backs are to the wall.

"They've lost two midfielders. Had Kerry a full complement, you would probably be going with Diarmuid O'Connor and Barry Dan O'Sullivan in midfield, allowing Joe O'Connor to go to the half-forward line and play in a midfield role anyway. But that's gone. So you're probably going to start with Joe O'Connor and Sean O'Brien at midfield.

"You don't know where Paudie Clifford is at and quite arguably, more importantly to Kerry, if he doesn't fire, the man inside doesn't fire. Where is he at and is he going to be as sharp?

"I'd back the two Cliffords to show up for Kerry. I don't think they've ever let them down on big days.

"My concern and my worry for Kerry will be, will their middle eight turn up?

"I'm talking about our middle eight for our kick-outs, I'm talking about our middle eight for their kick-outs, I'm talking about our middle eight for the defensive side of the game, and I'm talking about our middle eight attacking.

"It's a huge, huge ask for our lads. They just need to be that little bit hungrier, that little bit quicker to move the ball, to support, to shut Armagh down."

Ó Sé added of a situation that will now transpire: "If Paul Geaney doesn't start, he's the second-highest scorer from play. He is vital to them as well. He'd be a huge loss, but backs to the wall, I'd still give Kerry a great chance."

Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals on Saturday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry, from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

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