Allianz League semi-final preview: Dublin and Cork to prevail

You can smell the summer

After seven rounds of action we're finally down to the business end of things in the Allianz Football League this weekend. Croke Park hosts a double header this Sunday as Cork take on Donegal while holders Dublin face Monaghan for the second time in the space of a week.

Cork v Donegal, Croke Park, 2pm

When these two sides met in the League proper over a month ago, Donegal edged a tight encounter by 0-12 to 1-8. On paper a one point win may not look that impressive but when you factor in that it was achieved without Michael Murphy for the last 20 minutes due to his dismissal, it changes the perception somewhat. Granted both sides have developed since, but that win should give Rory Gallagher's side plenty of confidence before facing the league specialists this Sunday. Murphy will be back this weekend in the full forward line, and he's one of two changes to the side along with Anthony Thompson starting his first game of 2015 in place of Eamon Doherty. Donegal secured their place in the semi's thanks to a last-gasp draw with Mayo last week. They beat Derry, hammered Tyrone and secured that narrow win over Cork to make it into the last four, while they disappointed in Kerry, and Dublin proved a little bit sharper than their Ulster opponents on the opening night in February. Cork are looking to seal a place in yet another League final this Sunday, having contested three of the last five Springtime deciders. The Rebels are always flying in the early months of the year but struggle to maintain that momentum for a whole season. Brian Cuthbert has introduced a new style this season of almost counter-attacking football with two wing forwards being used to stretch defences as much as possible before Colm O'Neill and Brian Hurley take over to inflict the damage. They clearly learned from being too exposed last season against Kerry in Munster and their new style has added an edge missing from Cork over the last two years. There are several changes to the side that lost to Derry last week in a dead rubber as O'Neill,Hurley and Mark Collins all come back into the full-forward line as part of eight alterations in total. It will be fascinating how both sides deal with each other's defensive tactics.  Donegal are trying to be a little bit more expansive but the DNA of Jim McGuinness and caution is still very much imprinted in their style of play. Cork's forwards will enjoy the open space of Croke Park but only scored 1-11 against Derry last weekend. However with the full-forward line restored to full strength Cork's extra edge up front should see them overcome Donegal in the game of the weekend.

Dublin v Monaghan, Croke Park, 4pm

Seven days. That's all the time that Monaghan have to try and turn around what was a very limp display by their own high standards last week against Dublin in Clones into something more solid in Croke Park this weekend. Perhaps Monaghan were using the double-bluff, but for a team coming off the back of beating Kerry in Killarney surely they should have scored more than 1-11 and not conceded 1-22 on their way to a very disappointing defeat. The loss wasn't quite as bad as the hammering taken in the All-Ireland series last year, so if Monaghan are looking for motivation they don't have to search too hard. Malachy O'Rourke obviously feels that his side have something to prove as he's named an unchanged starting fifteen for Sunday's encounter. The team was named while the entire squad were in Portugal this week. They arrived back into Ireland on Friday evening. The trip was planned months ago and there was no way to know that the county would be in a League semi final, but it does raise questions how ready the Ulster side are on the clash with Dublin. Alan Brogan is back in the Dublin squad for Sunday and there would be no greater cheer if he was to make an appearance at some stage. But Jim Gavin isn't a man who tends to play up to the crowd too often and we'd be amazed if the elder Brogan features on Sunday. His experience may be needed for tougher days in the summer but his decision to renew his faith in the 'Boys in Blue' should give the squad a boost. The fear ahead of Sunday in the second semi final is how defensive both sides may opt to line out. Monaghan's tactics are not quite at the Derry or Donegal level yet, but having been carved open last week it would be foolish not to expect some kind of defensive set-up for the the Dubs to break down. Equally Jim Gavin is pragmatic enough to know that his use of the league is merely to get Dublin ready to face sides such as Donegal and Kerry if they meet in the latter end of the championship. Dublin saw last year how Kerry adapted to change their style in three weeks to counter-act Donegal in the All-Ireland final-Gavin has had four months to get his side used to playing both attacking and defensive football. The Dubs are going for three league titles in a row-something they have never achieved. With the Ulster championship a bigger focus for Monaghan as they meet Cavan next month, Dublin should prove too strong for the Farney and set up an April 26th date with Cork.