Can star-studded Galway cope with Donegal's energy?

For the first time in 15 years, we're arriving at the All-Ireland football semi-final stage with no Dublin to be seen anywhere.

For the entirety of my inter-county career, they were an ever-present at this stage. In all bar a handful of years, they wound up in the final and shortly after wound up in the All-Ireland winners banquet.

No question, it's a big opportunity for the four counties remaining.

One team has already gotten over the line this decade and are now installed as favourites. Another hasn't been at this stage for the guts of two decades.

Dublin's conquerors have been a hot tip for a while but have often struggled to get their best team on the pitch. Their opponents were supposed to be in a dreaded transition phase and headed for a half-decade of mediocrity until the Messiah returned and transformed them, if not overnight, then over the winter.

I'll be perched in the RTÉ studio in Croke Park for the second semi-final come Sunday. As it stands, I'm genuinely at a loss to call it. It's a coin flip.

Both Donegal and Galway have confounded their stereotypes this year. Galway are historically associated with stylish and cavalier forward play - and we hear all about that in Mayo - though this year, it's their defensive solidity that's stood out.

They've only conceded one goal in seven championship games this summer and that was from a kickout malfunction. Even before that, they kept five clean sheets in their seven league games.

By contrast, Jim McGuinness is the guru of modern defensive football and yet his teams have racked up heavy scores in several games - 2-23 and 1-23 in their last two games respectively.

In terms of personnel, I feel Galway are probably stronger overall. For the all the focus on Shane Walsh and