There is no doubt that the confrontation between the Galway half-backs and the Meath half-forwards will have a crucial influence on the outcome of this game. So much of what is good in the Galway team comes out of their half-back line. It's interesting that all three of the half-backs started their lives as forwards, and they still have wonderful forward instincts which makes them tremendously effective in going forward with the ball.

As a whole, the Galway defence has held up well this season. Against Roscommon the first day they did concede something like 2-6 to the opposing forwards and at times were all over the place. But they have revamped that defence a little bit now and brought in a new goalkeeper, which has benefited the team hugely.

Alan Keane is particularly good in the air and safe under a high ball. Gary Fahy is having a good year at full back, and although he was under pressure at certain points against Enda Muldoon, he has been their outstanding defender. Kieran Fitzgerald has also settled well in the corner, and with Richard Fahy in the other corner, I think Gary Fahy has more confidence in himself now.

If there was a weakness there, it may be when they players become isolated in a one-on-one situation. Meath will try to isolate the likes of Graham Geraghty and Ollie Murphy, create a two-against-two, and Galway will have to try to counter-act that.

I expect another big game from Murphy because he has been producing outstanding form all summer. No matter how the ball is sent into him he is capable of winning it. He is also marvellous in the air under a dropping ball and his ability to win a ball from behind or in front makes him so dangerous.

Murphy also combines his natural spring with great foot movement, and whoever marks him will face the biggest task of the Galway defence. How well they cope with him will have a huge bearing on the game.

Like Murphy, Trevor Giles has the potential to be a match winner. He is likely to face Tomas Mannion, whose general football is outstanding but whose general marking may not be enough to handle Giles.

Overall though, I don't think the Meath forwards will get it near as easy against Galway as they did against Kerry. Galway will play a completely different style of game, and they can also mix up their game. They always have a plan B and there certainly won't be the submission that we saw with Kerry in the semi-final.