8 hours ago
Kerry like a 'wounded dog,' and 'so unconvincing' Galway in a dangerous place
Two teams plenty would have been eyeing up as potential All-Ireland winners are Galway and Kerry. Galway was my pick from the start.
They're also two teams that so far in the All-Ireland series have failed to ignite in any way at all.
The word from Kerry is they're like a wounded dog and some voices within the county are saying it might just be better to put them down rather than prolong the agony.
Kerry have an injury crisis and even in the All-Ireland series game against Cork, where they ran out comfortable winners they coughed up so many goal chances. If that's an Armagh, Donegal or Tyrone, they score them.
Galway have tailed off rather dramatically since winning their province. They've played Dublin, Derry and Armagh - and in all these games they have been so unconvincing.
In no way, shape or form do they look like All-Ireland contenders.
Kerry play Cavan and should win but I don't think they'll get it all their own way, while Galway play Down in Newry.
Both should get through but if there is any chance of a shock it'll be in Newry. Galway are in a dangerous place as a team - and if anyone can exploit that weakness it's Conor Laverty, Marty Clarke and Mickey Donnelly.
They're doing brilliant work in Down at the minute but the gulf might be just too much. Down are building towards a place that Galway are already operating in.
Neither Galway nor Kerry can afford to wait for something to happen. Waiting for it is grand in a Munster or Connacht Championship when you've Clare or Leitrim the following week.
But with a GAA front pack that is relatively even, and so good, then waiting for it to happen is the worst thing you can do.
Neither team can afford to wait. They need to identify the problem(s), deal with them and move on. I don't think it's a case of them not having the work done.
Paddy Tally said during the week that he knew Derry's problem as clear as day - it was conditioning.
Incidentally, I don't agree with him as it wasn't conditioning that let them down in a few of those Championship games but he's best placed to make that call.
It's funny because Donegal exposed a structural problem with Derry in the first game of last year's Championship - and for some bizarre reason just wouldn't fix it.
It was a relatively easy fix too but something of the conditioning nature can't be fixed mid season.
If you find the opposition is stronger, faster and fitter, then you're not going to find the extra few weeks in a condensed season to fix that. I don't believe Kerry or Galway's problems can't be fixed.
They can get whatever they need sorted and push on. Obviously Kerry's injuries are a problem.
Some have criticized Jack O'Connor for not trusting panel players and not building a strong enough squad but are the lads coming in actually good enough?
You can argue Jack has been around a long time and won plenty. He knows what a Championship player is so maybe we should trust him.
If it's a case of the squad simply not being good enough, you do have to wonder why a county like Kerry with their 38 All-Irelands can't build a squad the same way Armagh have.
With the way the game is so demanding now and transitional, it's going to be sore on players. So having 20 to 23 lads that can genuinely add to things and play ball is a massive plus.
Galway need to sort Damien Comer out and find out one way or another whether he's fit to play in the All-Ireland series - and at least they'll know.
It's detrimental to a squad to have that in the back of the head, that maybe when Comer gets back we will move up a level. Goes back to that dangerous word of waiting.
They also need to sort the keeper out. I hope I'm wrong here, but I honestly don't see Galway winning on the big stage with Connor Gleeson in goals - and Conor Flaherty isn't the answer either.
I feel guilty saying that but I had Galway as my All-Ireland favorites at the start of the year but the more I see of them, the more I think that the keepers just don't have the tools to work it out.
Joyce could do worse than have a look around the clubs in Galway. The word in Donegal is that Jim McGuinness has drafted in Danny Rodgers at the tail end of the season to help give cover for the keepers.
He identified a fixable problem mid season and sorted it. Joyce can do the same. Throw it all at their effort to win an All-Ireland.
For the likes of Kerry and Galway mindset can be important too, when they find themselves in a midseason. Loss of confidence can be terminal at this time of year.
It's different for teams that know deep down they're not good enough - but for teams who have the potential to be at the top table and hit a patch like that, it's such a frustrating place to be.
I've been there more times than enough with Donegal, where you're ticking along waiting for the spark thinking to yourself that eventually it'll happen and suddenly you find yourself out of the Championship.
Just how do you save your season, knowing you have more there?
Both teams will have many many conversations - in their wee groups and as a team. Just how do you sort this?
You'll see it in so many club teams throughout the year, the fabled crisis meeting will be called.
I always loved a crisis meeting myself back in the day. I'll never forget a time with Donegal, going to Murphy and saying I'm not happy here.
I said, 'We need to have a meeting,' and he said, 'No, what we need to do is fix it in the training field.'
That's something that has always stuck with me. Yes of course there is a time for meetings and talking but sometimes it's easy to talk.
The training field is where most of the magic happens, where the bulk of what's going wrong on game day should be fixed.
Kerry coughing up goals and being a bit porous, Galway struggling to get out on their own kickouts.
They are all things that can be fixed. It can be tempting for teams to fall into the trap of just talking.
I believe both teams will get through this weekend okay, Kerry easier than Galway.
But unless they get their mindset sorted and fix the problems, they're not going to goany further than the quarter-finals.
