Ó Sé goes for Dublin and Kerry

August 09, 2019

RTE Sunday Game panellist Tomas O'Se. ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Tomás Ó Sé expects Dublin and Kerry to prevail in this weekend's All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.

Previewing the two games on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Ó Sé predicted that Dublin will "raise the bar" against Mayo, while he expects his native Kerry to get past Tyrone.

"This is guaranteed to be Dublin's biggest test at a packed Croke Park. There is a history of battles between these two sides and Mayo are the one side that have consistently pushed the Dubs to the limit," Ó Sé said of tomorrow's semi-final.

"Despite losing twice this season, Mayo are still standing and I guarantee you they will give it their all. Down, Armagh and Donegal could all have knocked them out and they failed to do so.

"I am one of the many who have said that the Dubs have improved, but what are we basing it on? They beat Meath, Cork and Roscommon, but they haven't been tested to the limit.

"Mayo will be ravenous and the whole country would love to see Dublin being beaten. If that doesn’t pump the Dubs up, nothing well. I can see them raising the bar again this weekend. There is enough weakness in Mayo’s kickouts and I’m not sure the forward unit has enough to beat a motivated Dublin defence.

"People tell me the Dubs aren’t playing well, but they will have the answers."

In picking a winner of the Kerry v Kerry tie, Ó Sé noted that: "There is a fair history between these two counties. A mutual respect on both sides, but definitely needle also.

"I have heard it said that Kerry will struggle with Tyrone’s physicality and running game and it is an area that worries me from a green and gold perspective.

"The Kingdom have to play it clever and stay out of contact. Mickey Harte’s template, outside of playing Cathal McShane and Richie Donnelly up front, has always been a solid defence, hunt in packs and run where necessary.

"For Kerry to win, the threat of Mattie Donnelly, Cathal McShane and Peter Harte must be curbed. If those guys play well, Tyrone generally win.

"Kerry are capable of winning this. And Tyrone are probably a safer bet, but I feel this could be a turning point for this Kerry team, provided they avoid contact and up their own levels of aggression.

"This is the weekend Kerry have to step up."

Join the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for live coverage of the All-Ireland football semi-finals.


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