GAA: Michael Geaney added to Kerry side for Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway

Michael Geaney comes in to the half-forward line in place of the injured Stephen O’Brien to represent Kerry’s only change for their All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-final clash with Galway at Croke Park on Sunday (17:00).

The Dingle clubman’s inclusion is the only change to the Kingdom side which comprehensively swept Cork aside in the Munster final a month ago.

Gary O’Donnell appears to have shrugged off the shoulder injury which saw him withdrawn in the first half of last week’s qualifier win over Tipperary as Galway manager Alan Mulholland names an unchanged fifteen.

We allowed them to come at us. We’ll have to work on that because that’s not going to work against Kerry.

The Tribesmen appeared to recover from their woeful performance in the Connacht decider against Mayo with a 40-minute mauling of the Premier County.

Yet they carry defensive worries into this match-up, having conceded 7-26 in their last two outings, including 4-12 last week against Tipp.

Mulholland is quick to highlight his side must improve further if they are to beat the might of the Kingdom.

“We allowed them to come at us. We’ll have to work on that because that’s not going to work against Kerry,” said the Galway boss.

Poorly

“Really what we’ll be working on is the stuff that we did poorly against Mayo, and the stuff that we did poorly against Tipp, trying to rectify that and get in a proper and good performance.”

In Danny Cummins, Paul Conroy and the outstanding Shane Walsh, they have one of the most potent attacking units in Ireland.

The young Kilkerrin clubman is the second top scorer in this season’s championship – his tally of 1-24 four points behind eliminated Tipp’s Conor Sweeney.

The last championship meeting between these counties evokes explicit memories of the Saturday in August 2008 – at the same stage – when there was torrential rain of biblical proportions.

The first ever floodlit championship game that followed served up an excellent display of shooting, in which the Kingdom ran out 1-21 to 1-16 winners.

That was the last time Galway made it this far on the biggest stage. Kerry have been ever-present since the introduction of the qualifiers in 2001.

Anything can happen when Galway have forwards like they have.

Declan O’Sullivan’s deeper role has proven particularly effective throughout the summer, while All-Star corner forward James O’Donoghue has the ability to destroy any defence not on their game.

Mulholland’s opposite number, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, however, expects a tough test from the rejuvenated Connacht side.

Decline

“I remember 2008, when Kerry were going for three-in-a-row. Galway were in a slight bit of a decline at the time but it showed that on a given day, that Kerry and Galway games are usually good open football games,” said Fitzmaurice.

“And anything can happen when Galway have forwards like they have. And any team that you’re playing in an All-Ireland quarter-final is going to be very hard to crack.”

The winners of this tie will meet the winners of the second match on the bill at headquarters – Mayo and Cork.