There is fascination surrounding the four football games that grace Croke Park this weekend, and it isn’t hard to see why. By Sunday night, we will know just who is the real deal. That question mark probably hangs over Roscommon, Down, Galway, Kildare, Armagh and Monaghan. We have ample evidence to suggest that Kerry and Mayo are up to most tasks. They could both be tested – and Mayo as usual will make it hard for themselves – but they can advance.

What about the other six counties? Down and Armagh will be underdogs on Saturday night, although neither Monaghan nor Kildare can be considered top-tier teams and are eminently beatable if either fail to summon a performance.

The Lilywhites’ reunion with Kieran McGeeney will attract headlines and attention, but the game itself is a worthy headline act. Kildare can take much from the Leinster final but all of that goes out the window if they fall down here. They must surely have too much firepower for the Ulster side, not forgetting the gulf in class that their league standings suggest. It is simply unthinkable for Kildare to lose this game. That’s never a good place to start for their long-suffering supporters, who were once the Mayo of their day, doomed to be good enough but deemed not to be lucky enough. The evidence of the display against Dublin suggests they could be a last-four team this summer – if they have bounced back from that “moral” victory.

Kildare’s blueprint is pleasing on the eye – a mix of short and long ball, backed with a physicality in their forward line that enables them to win the high deliveries, thus negating what extra men are funnelled back by the opposition.

Armagh don’t possess the same weapons up front; their hard-fought but laboured win over Tipperary highlighted their scoring limitations. But they do have the work rate and honesty to make Kildare go to the well. Of the remaining 10 counties in this year’s championship, Armagh are the lowest rated and the sole remaining Division 3 survivor. Their run has been valiant but it ends on Saturday.

The same should apply to Down who will have familiarity in provincial rivals Monaghan. It was back in early June when the Mourne men caught Monaghan on the hop in the Ulster semi-final and clung on to beat them by two points. Since then, Down have been chastened by Tyrone while Monaghan have been regrouping, albeit not too stylishly, through the back door. Ciaran McManus has had a quiet summer, scoring only two points from play in the qualifier wins over Wexford and Wicklow. Back in June, Niall McParland picked up an early yellow for a foul on McManus. The Farney talisman will have a point to prove this weekend, despite his three from play in that semi-final. Since the introduction of the qualifiers, the football championship has been littered with repeat pairings – the advantage usually lying with the side once beaten as they tend to be twice shy. Let it be with Malachy O’Rourke’s side.

Those who are writing off Galway (including myself) would do well to remember that they have traditionally given Kerry problems in Croke Park. Up to a point, of course. This could be a very pretty game to watch but the Kingdom will not offer anything like the token resistance or space offered to the Tribesmen by Donegal.

Kerry can’t take their eye off the ball on Sunday, but Galway’s four goals in Sligo will have concentrated their minds. As ever, Kerry will grow in stature as they get sight of Jones’ Road.

It was an interesting decision by the schedule makers to put Roscommon-Mayo on as Sunday’s headliners at 4pm. It could prove to be an inspired one too because this game could enthral. Mayo, fresh from extra time in Limerick against Cork – their second such bout in the qualifiers – must be vulnerable. While games every weekend brings its own momentum, fatigue can be a factor too.

The Rossies are on a justifiable high after their Connacht championship and they must have taken huge confidence in that performance, which exorcised plenty of ghosts for players and management alike.

Kevin McStay deserved his day in the sun and showed admirable grace and restraint in the aftermath of the Galway win, considering the ridiculous flak he had taken earlier in the year. They represent trouble for Mayo if they arrive in Croke Park with their heads on straight.

An off day for Cillian O’Connor and/or Andy Moran and this game goes down to the wire. Had Mayo another week to recover, they would have been the confident choice but the odds have narrowed considerably on the Rossies. They should be in this to the end.

Pitch-perfect Páirc

The new Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a wonderful addition to our association. The ground is beautifully framed and the pitch views from inside are spectacular. I was there for both hurling quarter-finals and both experiences were exceptional (despite the Clare result).

There is a compactness to the stadium, despite its 45,000 capacity. The design is spectator-friendly in all areas – they even have a smoking terrace that offers views of the pitch. Stewarding at the weekend was also very relaxed, the pride of the locals obvious, with supporters encouraged to have a look around for themselves.

Cork can be rightly proud of the venue. It deserves to see some big days and the GAA will have to think about filling it more than once or twice a year if the ground is to sell out its premium seats – a vital part of debt repayments. All-Ireland semi-final replays are a must if they’re needed this August.

Down the road, it would make for an ideal Rugby World Cup venue, while it is also the perfect size for one of Ireland’s autumn internationals. That might be too much for some traditionalists, but the stadium cost dictates that they must live in the real world. CL