Just four teams remain standing in the race to be crowned 2023 All-Ireland champions and this weekend’s semi-finals could be decided by the finest of margins.
The changes made by the various management teams on Saturday and Sunday could make or break their dreams of lifting the Sam Maguire later this month.
Having the necessary strength-in-depth has been crucial to the success of teams in recent campaigns, but it perhaps even more important with the new Championship format in the split season.
Read more: Managers hit out at decision not play All-Ireland Minor football final at Croke Park
When Dublin completed their sixth All-Ireland title in-a-row in 2020, they were able to spring the likes of Brian Howard, Paul Mannion and Paddy Small off the bench to help them over the line against Mayo.
One year later, Mayo were on the wrong side of the result again as Tyrone won their fourth All-Ireland crown with Cathal McShane, Darragh Canavan and Tiernan McCann among the subs introduced by the Red Hands.
When things weren’t going according to plan in last year’s final, Jack O’Connor brought on Killian and Adrian Spillane for Paul Geaney and David Moran for the start of the second half and they saw off Galway by four points after being a point down at the break.
Ahead of this weekend’s last four ties, we examine the depth of the four All-Ireland semi-finalists.
Derry
Possible starting team: O Lynch; C McKaigue, E McEvoy, C McCluskey; C Doherty, G McKinless, P McGrogan; C Glass, B Rogers; N Toner, P Cassidy, E Doherty; C McFaul, S McGuigan, N Loughlin.
Likely subs
Benny Heron: If Benny Heron doesn’t start on Sunday, he is likely to be the first substitute introduced early in the second half. The Ballinascreen man is something of a cult hero among the Derry fans, but he hasn’t been as prolific this season as he was last year, albeit he isn’t starting as many games.
Lachlan Murray: Was at the centre of an eligibility row earlier this year with the-then Derry boss Rory Gallagher keen on having him and Eoghan McEvoy for the seniors rather than the U20s. The Desertman attacker is a gifted player and it is surely only a matter of time before he is commanding a starting berth.
Padraig Cassidy: Was a regular starter earlier in the Championship campaign, but has been relegated to the subs bench with Ciaran McFaul forcing his way into the side. Still, Cassidy is a useful option off the bench and can slot in in the half-back or half-forward line and is well capable of taking a score.
Shea Downey: Has fallen out of favour in 2023 after being a regular feature at the heart of the Derry defence in 2022. The emergence of Eoghan McEvoy has ultimately cost Downey, but he is a calm presence on the ball and can slot in anywhere in defence if some of the Derry backs are finding the going tough on Sunday.
Ben McCarron: Derry rarely use their full quota of subs, but they might need to on Sunday. If they are within striking distance of Kerry and they decide that they need a goal, Ciaran Meenagh might well turn to Ben McCarron. The Steelstown native probably hasn’t seen as much game time as he would have liked in 2023, but he has the power and pace to trouble any team.
Verdict: Derry have, arguably, the least options of the four semi-finalists. Previous incumbent Rory Gallagher preferred to run with a smaller squad. That has stood to them in the provincial arena, but could be their downfall again at the semi-final stage. Lachlan Murray has been their most influential substitute this season, scoring 1-2 when introduced.
Kerry
Possible starting team: S Ryan; G O Sullivan, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; P Murphy, T Morley, G White; D O’Connor, J Barry; D Moynihan, S O’Shea, A Spillaine; P Clifford, D Clifford, P Geaney.
Likely subs
Stephen O’Brien: Was a model of consistency for the Kingdom last season, but Stephen O’Brien has been more of an impact sub in the Championship this term. Was the only Kerry substitute to register a point against Tyrone in the quarter-final and is likely to be among the first replacements called on against Derry.
Tony Brosnan: Received a sublime no-look pass from David Clifford before setting up Sean O’Shea as Kerry crushed Tyrone in the last eight. The Dr Croke’s clubman, like O’Brien, will be chomping at the bit to see some action and can slot in anywhere in the forward line.
Brian Ó Beaglaoích: Has struggled with a hamstring injury this season with former All-Star Paul Murphy regaining a starting berth in the half-back line. Ó Beaglaoich’s return to fitness gives Jack O’Connor another option in defence, although they only conceded 0-12 against Tyrone in the quarter-final.
Killian Spillane: Like Ó Beaglaoích, Killian Spillane has struggled with injury this season, but looks set to feature at some stage after recovering from an ankle ligament injury. Kerry aren’t exactly short of options up front, but Spillane could also slot in at midfield if Diarmuid O’Connor or Jack Barry are struggling.
Mike Breen: Made his first Championship start in the Group One win over Louth in Portlaoise and rewarded his gaffer by scoring one of their five goals on the day. Breen’s versatility around the middle third could see him called on against Derry.
Verdict: David Moran’s retirement and injuries to Joe O’Connor and Stefan Okunbor mean Jack O’Connor has less options than last season. Kerry’s replacements in 2023 have been shoring up games, but it will be interesting to see how the Kingdom would fare if they have to chase a game in the final 10 minutes. In their last four Championship games, only Stephen O'Brien has scored (against Tyrone) when introduced.
Monaghan
Possible starting team: R Beggan; K Duffy, C Boyle, R Wylie; K O’Connell, K Lavelle, C McCarthy; K Gallagher, D Hughes; S O’Hanlon, M Bannigan, R McAnespie; J McCarron, G Mohan, D Ward.
Likely subs
Conor McManus: No man made a bigger impact off the bench in the quarter-finals than Conor McManus. The dilemma for Vinny Corey is to stick or twist? The fear is that Dublin could have kicked for home by the time McManus is sprung from the bench. Monaghan might deploy Mickey Harte’s tactic with Peter Canavan in the 2003 final by starting McManus and reintroducing him later in the second half.
Ryan O’Toole: Was surprisingly dropped for the quarter-final clash against Armagh having been one of Monaghan’s best defenders in the early part of their Championship campaign. Impressed when playing the final 20 minutes plus extra-time against the Orchard and will certainly be called on if he doesn’t regain a starting berth.
Sean Jones: Monaghan will have a mixture of youth and experience on their bench on Saturday and Sean Jones is one of the fresher faces in the panel, aged just 21. However, he is a quality player and the fact that he was the third man off the bench against Armagh suggest he is going well in training for the Farney
Shane Carey: Another who could well find himself on the starting team, Shane Carey fell out of favour ahead of the final group game against Donegal, but scored two from play in the draw against Derry. The Scotstown attacker might have lost a yard of pace, but he is a lively threat and has plenty of Championship experience.
Kieran Hughes: Usually gets the nod when his brother Darren has run himself into the ground for the Monaghan cause. Slotted home two penalties in the shootout against Armagh and is never afraid to take on a shot in big Championship games. The younger Hughes sibling has played a number of positions for the Farney, but is likely to come in at centre forward.
Verdict: Conor McManus has scored 0-7 when introduced off the bench, including a stunning 0-4 haul against Armagh last time out. The problem for Monaghan is who else can make that impact if Corey opts to play him from the start against Dublin? Plenty of their squad players have big-game experience, but that advantage is nullified against the Dubs who are playing in their own backyard.
Dublin
Possible starting team: S Cluxton; D Byrne, M Fitzsimons, L Gannon; J McCarthy, J Small, E Murchan; B Fenton, B Howard; C Costello, S Bugler, N Scully; P Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, C Basquel.
Likely subs
Jack McCaffrey: Such is Dublin’s strength-in-depth, they might have the luxury of bringing on a former Footballer of the Year. Jack McCaffrey’s comeback hasn’t been smooth sailing, but he retains the ability to strike fear into opposition defences with his surging runs from deep. He may start, but he would be some option off the bench for Dessie Farrell.
Ciaran Kilkenny: Another possible/probable starter is Ciaran Kilkenny, but Farrell opted to go without him for the Mayo game. The six-time All Star looked hungry when he came on, but the Dublin boss might decide not to tinker too much when his selection policy worked a treat in the quarter-final.
Paddy Small: Like McCaffrey and Kilkenny, Paddy Small was named to start against Mayo, but made way for Paul Mannion before throw-in. Mannion kicked two points from play, but Small was one of three Dublin subs who scored when introduced. Will probably need to be content with a place on the bench after Mannion, Cormac Costello and Colm Basquel all impressed against Mayo.
Tom Lahiff: With Dublin’s centrefield trio of Brian Fenton, Brian Howard and James McCarthy all fit and firing on all cylinders, Tom Lahiff has found chances few and far between this summer. However, his experience means he is likely to get the nod ahead of Craig Dias if or when Dublin need reinforcements at midfield on Saturday.
Dean Rock: Will be hoping to collect an eighth All-Ireland medal later this month and he proved against Mayo he still has plenty to offer this team. He may not command a starting berth these days, but the Ballymun attacker has been at the forefront of so many key moments for Dublin over the last decade.
Verdict: Dublin were only a Sean O’Shea free behind champions Kerry last season and their squad is stronger in 2023. Stephen Cluxton and Jack McCaffrey are back and Paul Mannion has regained fitness. In seven Championship outings, their bench has contributed 2-16 - a tally greater than the replacements of other three semi-finalists combined. Only once, against Roscommon, did their substitutes fail to register a score and, regardless of who starts, Dessie Farrel is likely to be able to call upon former All Stars and All-Ireland winners if the going gets tough against Monaghan on Saturday.
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