Greg Higgins (Corofin ) v Tom Parsons (Charlestown )
Higgins is 23 and was recently selected as the top club player in Galway for 2009. He is showing the kind of form that will have caught Joe Kernan’s eye. Standing 6ft, 4” and with an eye for a score or two, he faces a tough job on Sunday tangling with Parsons who has played senior championship with Mayo. Both men are very mobile, good fielders, and link the play well and their joust should be one of the best individual contests this Sunday.
Damien Burke (Corofin ) v Tony Mulligan (Charlestown )
Due to the hamstring injury to Kieran Fitzgerald, Damien Burke has been pushed back to man the edge of the square. He has done well in his relocation and on Sunday he will have to be at his best to nullify Tony “The Bomb” Mulligan. Mulligan scored two crucial points against Castlerea to propel his team to victory. He is 25 and has been having a very positive season on the edge of the square for Ciarán McBride. Burke is an experienced campaigner and man-marker and he should have the football ability and power to keep Mulligan’s contribution to the minimum.
Alan Burke (Corofin ) v Aiden Higgins (Charlestown )
Both players have played with distinction for their county at all grades and Higgins, 33, was a Mayo regular for many years.His legs may not be what they used to be and Burke will try to expose any lack of pace with his searing runs through the middle. Burke does not play as an orthodox centre forward and he constantly interchanges around the field collecting possession. Higgins is susceptible if run at and that is where Burke or raiding wingbacks can do some damage on the opposition rearguard.
