Tommorrow's Galway-Armagh game could hardly be further removed from last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final.

The decision to fix the game in Carrick-on-Shannon has been criticised but, whatever about that, the counties’ request to shift it to Croke Park was ridiculous. Tyrone-Armagh barely had 8,000 at it in Omagh while there was a much smaller crowd in Mullingar for Westmeath-Galway.

Staging it in Carrick at least allows for a much better atmosphere than that at a soulless Croke Park.

Galway edged Armagh on penalties in that quarter-final and went within a few minutes of winning the All-Ireland.

They’re now the only team left in the Championship with a 100% record and look to be getting fitter and stronger, priming themselves for a tilt at the big prize.

Armagh, meanwhile, have flattered to deceive. They’ve been a huge disappointment this year overall and look to have gone backwards.

They were relegated from Division One, winning only two games, one of which was in round one against a depleted Monaghan, the other against a Donegal team in disarray.

Their Championship wins this year have been against Antrim, Down and Cavan and Westmeath, all of whom played Division Three football this year. They haven’t beaten a serious team all year and I don’t see them as contenders.

Oisin McConville commented that Rian O’Neill’s sending off against Tyrone was a consequence of a lack of protection from referees. I think it was borne more from the frustration of where exactly Armagh are at the minute, and his own form hasn’t been brilliant either.

So where does that leave them tomorrow? Yes, they are a threat to Galway and it will be interesting to see do they revert to what they did well last year and go direct.

They will surely feel that Galway’s full-back line is an area they can target. Jack Glynn and John McGrath are small in stature while Conor Gleeson had a nightmare in last year’s quarter-final under the high ball and conceded a goal from a long Ethan Rafferty delivery in the League meeting between the two sides in March.

Overall, Padraic Joyce will be delighted how his team are shaping up. They weren’t brilliant the last day out against Westmeath but ran out comfortable winners for a finish.

Damien Comer’s second half introduction was a big reason behind why they pulled away and the big question is when are all the Galway forwards going to click on the one day?

Joyce will be very comfortable if he has to wait until the knockout football for that to happen. If and when that does happen, God help the defence they are up against.

For now, any result tomorrow sees them through to a quarter-final. It will be tricky for them as mentally they could already be thinking one step ahead.

Armagh will pose plenty of problems for them, but Galway are a well-oiled machine at this stage, and I believe they will get the win that will see them top their group.

Still some level of intrigue, if not jeopardy, to the final round games

Cork's Eoin Cadogan tackles Aidan O'Shea of Mayo

This weekend really should really be the highlight of the year, the start of the championship in earnest with real cut and thrust, everything on the line.

But the GAA, in their attempt to prevent final group stage dead rubbers, have, in effect, almost made the entire group stage a dead rubber.

While there isn’t the level of jeopardy isn’t there that there should be, and would be if only two teams were to come out of the group, the prize for topping the group means that there is still some level of intrigue.

Group 1

Mayo simply can’t let their good work in beating Kerry in Killarney go to waste. A win or draw guarantees them top spot and a direct route to an All-Ireland quarter final but it’s a dangerous game for them against Cork.

Cork, in a sense, have a free shot and will look to frustrate them similarly to what Louth did.

I think Mayo will be much better this time and will get the result they need.

Kerry certainly do not look right at the minute and there is no doubt Mickey Harte will bring a gameplan to try and stifle their attack.

But I think Kerry will deal with this much more comfortably than Mayo did and get the win that secures second spot.

Group 2

As stated elsewhere, I expect Galway will beat Armagh. In the other game, Tyrone should prevail but Westmeath have shown enough in this group stage that they are certainly no pushover.

Tyrone haven’t impressed at all so far but should get a result to send them through to a play-off next week.

Group 3

Probably the most interesting group with, score difference likely to decide top spot. Dublin will look to pile it on against Sligo, who will be under pressure from the off and this could get ugly.

Roscommon will be trying to do the same against Kildare but are much more likely to get caught in a battle than Dublin are. Their main focus has to be to win the game which I think they will, but Dublin will pip them for top spot.

Group 4

The least interesting group on the final weekend. Derry will get the win against Clare which guarantees top spot in the group.

Monaghan and Donegal play out in what effectively is a dead rubber with both teams certain of their place in the play-offs next week. It’ll be tight and I can see it ending in a draw.

Cavan to come through crunch Tailteann Cup tie

Croke Park is just one game away for the Tailteann Cup quarter-finalists this weekend.

Cavan against Down is without doubt the pick of the round and probably a game fit for the final itself.

Mickey Graham’s side have cruised through most games they have played in to date but will be severely tested here.

Cavan are a bit further along the road in terms of development than Down and that should tell.

Elsewhere, I expect wins for Limerick, Meath and Antrim.

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