Comer factor crucial to Galway hopes of toppling Dublin

Any hope Galway have of turning over All-Ireland champions Dublin in Saturday's SFC quarter-final is likely to come down to Damien Comer, says former Dubs midfielder Ciarán Whelan.

The Tribesmen gifted Armagh a goal in their final group game and ended up with a draw in a game they had dominated. The result was a preliminary quarter-final they could have done without given their injury list, but Monaghan were dispatched at a wet and windy Salthill.

With match fitness a concern over a whole host of players, including Shane Walsh, Sean Kelly and Damien Comer, a third weekend on the trot was always going to be a tall order no matter the draw. The fact they drew Dublin has made that hill significantly steeper.

While Comer made his comeback last week, the sight of Walsh limping off with an ankle injury was another sorry sight for Galway supporters.

Ciaran Whelan thinks the 'Comer factor' will be crucial if Galway are to beat Dublin with a counter-attacking approach in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final
Listen to or watch the RTÉ GAA podcast in full here or wherever you get your podcasts:https://t.co/R7Kj6rj5VU #GAA pic.twitter.com/JFf1osap7Q

Manager Padraic Joyce has named both in his starting team for Saturday’s encounter, though it remains to be seen how much juice is in the tank for both, while team captain Kelly is still not operating at 100%.

Speaking on this week’s RTÉ GAA podcast, Whelan says that a number of things need to fall Galway’s way to book a place in the last four.

He’s expecting a cagey approach from the Connacht champions, but if they are to stand any chance of pulling off a famous win, he believes it rests on the role of Comer.

"If Galway sit tight – and with Liam Silke and Dylan McHugh dropping in in front