Galway v Donegal:THIS MATCH has the potential to be one of the delights of the GAA summer.

Their championship history is limited and is stacked in Galway’s favour, but their last meeting produced a gripping quarter-final draw in Croke Park and, for Donegal folks, a transcendent evening in Castlebar.

That is old news, but there are parallels.

Galway are once again at a something of a crossroads in mood and direction. Donegal present themselves in their usual shape-shifting guise – half football team, half jigsaw puzzle.

Galway were largely subdued against Mayo and must have been rocked by the see-saw close to that match. But they could easily have won.

Donegal looked just plain miserable until last Saturday night, when they bloomed so spectacularly against Derry, a match that was, by all accounts, one of those gems lost to television posterity.

Their old guard of Monaghan, Roper, Cassidy and Boyle have played a central role in their revival, but it is up to the younger vintage to push them through.

The day could boil down to the battle of the MMs. Michael Meehan’s reputation precedes him but Donegal’s Michael Murphy is probably the best kept secret of the game: he has the potential to become something truly special.

This game is all, but impossible to call because, with Donegal, so much is guesswork.

Galway have a right to be considered favourites because they are a more consistent and proven force. But if Donegal are in the mood, all bets are off.

DONEGAL: B Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh, B Roper, L McLoone; C Dunne, M Murphy, C McFadden.

GALWAY:A Faherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Burke; G Bradshaw, D Blake, D Meehan; J Bergin, N Coleman; S Armstrong, P Joyce, P Conroy; M Clancy, M Meehan, N Joyce.

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).