Bryan Sheehan: My fab four to advance to the Super 8s

Cork v Tyrone

I don’t know where Cork are at and I don’t believe they know themselves. I was very impressed when they beat Tipp, they came flying out of the blocks, played great football and had the game wrapped up halfway through the second half.

I thought at that time that ‘this is a new Cork management, they’ve found something and they’re going to give Kerry one hell of a battle.’ However, Kerry were just far superior to them in the Munster final – on a different level totally in fact.

Could you put it down to a bad night at the office? The same thing happened last year though, Cork lost to Kerry and possibly should’ve beaten Mayo in the Gaelic Grounds. So don’t write The Rebels off just yet.

Cork are going in with a lot hanging over them though. They might throw off the shackles and have a right go. However, Tyrone have been playing regular Division 1 football and with the momentum they have from playing the last few weeks, I believe Mickey Harte’s outfit should do it.

Verdict: Tyrone win

Fermanagh v Kildare

The surprise victory over Mayo will have brought on Kildare massively. Sometimes you just need a day like that where things click for a side to take the next step.

It can help if you have an angle that can get you up for a game and Kildare had that with the Newbridge or Nowhere chaos. That really galvanised them and they would’ve said to themselves ‘right, we won this battle, now we need to go out and put a performance in on the pitch’.

Cian O’Neill was totally right to do what he did. The whole point of the draw that if you’re out first you get home advantage and fair play to Cian, he fought tooth and nail to get it.

There’ll be a huge buzz around the team and The Lilywhites will really fancy their chances against Fermanagh with the momentum they’ve gathered from last weekend.

Saying that, Fermanagh were disappointing in the Ulster final – but you have to remember that they still beat Monaghan. So, they’re capable of a shock.

Verdict: Kildare

Laois v Monaghan

Monaghan are going to win here, plain and simple.

They were caught on the hop a bit against Fermanagh. Now, they deserved it on the day for the way they tore into Monaghan, but if they were to play again next weekend Monaghan would beat them.

Malachy O’Rourke’s men will have too much for Laois here. There’s a big difference between playing Division 1 football and playing Division 4 and that will tell in this one.

Verdict: Monaghan

Roscommon v Armagh

This one’s a tough one and I reckon it will be the tightest game of the weekend. In fairness to Armagh, they showed great character to come back against Clare, but they hit 18 wides which will be a big concern. It will tell you about the amount of ball they had though!

Roscommon will win for my money, they have the better forwards and they really put it up to Galway in the Connacht final.

I felt they could’ve put it up to them even more and punished Galway that day. Armagh do have a bit of momentum, but I reckon Roscommon have the firepower to just edge it.

Verdict: Roscommon