'Donegal's top three traits can help them reach final'

Just for illustration that, we person a shot title connected our hands. Most group would work together that, crossed nan piece, nan All-Ireland quarter-finals near overmuch to beryllium desired erstwhile it came to edge-of-your-seat thrills.

But Galway's triumph complete Dublin has blown nan title for nan Sam Maguire wide unfastened and adds much intrigue heading into semi-final weekend.

What we're near pinch are 4 teams who will rightly consciousness they tin spell each nan way. While Kerry prevailed 2 years ago, nan hold for Armagh (22 years), Galway (23 years) and Donegal (12 years) to get their hands backmost connected Sam has been agelong and torturous.

It'll beryllium awesome to beryllium backmost successful nan BBC workplace for Armagh v Kerry connected Saturday and Donegal v Galway connected Sunday.

Here's really I deliberation they will go.

Kerry showed Derry a immense magnitude of respect successful nan quarter-final.

Derry travelled to Croke Park fresh for a warfare of attrition and Kerry decided to mimic that to debar being susceptible to counter-attacks.

Kerry's celebrations astatine nan extremity struck me. Their reasonably muted guidance made it look for illustration it was occupation done and not a important triumph complete an All-Ireland contender.

The measurement Kerry played was a acold outcry from nan panache and style we've seen from nan Kingdom down nan years, but I was heartened to perceive Jack O'Connor admitting that Kerry's onslaught lacked spark and power against Derry. They'll request to sharpen up astatine that extremity of nan section against Armagh because Kieran McGeeney's broadside person nan expertise to stall nan greenish and gold.

Armagh person looked cohesive successful defence this year. They person played 15 games successful convention and title this twelvemonth and person kept 14 cleanable sheets (Cork scored 2 goals against them successful nan league).

My fearfulness for Armagh, however, centres connected onslaught and whether they tin get capable scores connected nan board. To hit Kerry, they'll request their forwards firing connected each cylinders. Conor Turbitt has played good this twelvemonth and Oisin Conaty kicked 4 from play nan past day, but he has besides been utilized successful a protect capacity. Rory Grugan and Rian O'Neill person shown flashes this year, but they will request to occurrence for nan full 70 minutes.

There's nary uncertainty Armagh person nan guardant portion to problem Kerry. But pinch defence often being a priority, they haven't gotten nan astir retired of their forwards astatine times.

That was evident against Roscommon until Stefan Campbell came on. He's truthful forward-thinking and offered that consciousness of urgency going forward, kicking 2 points and mounting up different couple.

I do person a newfound respect for Armagh fixed really they person rebounded from immoderate heartbreaking defeats, nan likes of which would person haunted maine for a while arsenic a player.

They are a resilient bunch and their much seasoned campaigners person stuck pinch them done immoderate acheronian periods.

That toughness will guidelines to them this play successful a semi-final I tin spot going correct down to nan wire. But I consciousness that if Kerry reply O'Connor's telephone and bring much spark to their attack, they will person conscionable astir capable to scope a 3rd last successful a row.

After nan troubles of past year, a batch of Donegal group didn't expect to beryllium backmost successful an All-Ireland semi-final truthful soon, but Jim McGuinness' broadside person been earnestly accordant each year.

You would subordinate consistency pinch McGuinness' first spell successful charge, and while it would beryllium incorrect to overgarment this broadside successful nan nonstop aforesaid light, they do stock immoderate cardinal traits.

Firstly, they've managed to mostly support nan goals out. Another large positive is really they person kept nan opposition's cardinal men retired of games. Think backmost to really they kept Derry's Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers quiet aliases Tyrone's Darragh Canavan and moreover Louth's Sam Mulroy successful nan quarter-final.

That has been a cornerstone of Donegal's occurrence successful nan past. On apical of that, they're amassing large scorelines, averaging astir 22 points per game. That'll get nan occupation done for astir teams.

They person a marquee guardant successful Oisin Gallen but they haven't been overly reliant connected him aliases Patrick McBrearty for scores. Against Louth, they had 11 different scorers and we've seen large performances from players each complete nan pitch. Peadar Mogan has won back-to-back subordinate of nan period awards and will beryllium a cardinal outlet again connected Sunday.

Scoring heavily, keeping retired goals and nullifying cardinal threats. Donegal will bring each three, but beating Dublin gave Galway's situation a immense changeable successful nan arm.

Galway person been dependable this year, and erstwhile you deliberation astir their roadworthy to this point, it's difficult not to beryllium impressed. They hit Mayo successful a tight Connacht final, faced Armagh and Derry successful nan group shape and toppled Dublin successful nan quarter-final.

They're astir apt nan astir battle-hardened of nan 4 remaining teams. Their mean winning separator is astir 2 points, too, truthful they person a wont of edging adjacent games.

Galway person nan expertise to wounded teams pinch their powerplays successful attack, but for me, their chances will hinge connected whether aliases not they tin support their cardinal men connected nan pitch.

Against Dublin, Damien Comer seemed to beryllium limping astatine nan end, Shane Walsh was forced disconnected and they mislaid Sean Kelly successful nan first half. Walsh is simply a phenomenal guardant and nan type of scores he tin conjure are not easy to replace.

But Galway's spot successful extent has helped them this year. Injury woes earlier successful nan play challenged Padraic Joyce but he adapted good and gave important crippled clip to a batch of his squad.

In nan Dublin game, Joyce brought connected Cein Darcy, Liam O Conghaile, Johnny Heaney, Cian Hernon and Tomo Culhane, each of whom person a batch of minutes successful their legs - and that makes a difference.

They're besides a large broadside successful nan mediate of nan field. John Maher, Cillian McDaid and Paul Conroy are each astatine slightest 6ft 2ins. Jason McGee didn't play against Louth but Donegal will request him backmost to combat Galway's aerial presence.

Galway were capable to section their strongest 15 against Dublin. They play pinch beautiful assortment and balance, but I'm backing Donegal to tie connected nan qualities that person gotten them to this shape and make nan county's first All-Ireland last successful 10 years.

Michael Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport NI's Matt Gault