Dublin & Tyrone meet on Sunday in the second All Ireland Football semi-final for what is sure to be an intriguing encounter.

Gaelic Football fans all over the country will be waiting in anticipation for the throw in to the second All Ireland semi final in Sunday with the meeting of Tyrone and Dublin throwing up so many questions that will hopefully be answered by 5:30pm on Sunday evening.

There has been much talk of how Dublin have strolled this stage without an opponent so much as laying a glove on them never mind a serious punch. For Tyrone their progression has been clear cut and to their credit, they have dispatched opponents of a superior quality that Dublin have had to face.

Ulster 1/4 Final: Tyrone 0-22 v Derry 0-11

Ulster 1/2 Final: Tyrone 1-21 v Donegal 1-12

Ulster Final: Tyrone 2-17 v Down 0-15

All Ireland 1/4 Final: Tyrone 3-17 v Armagh 0-8

Leinster 1/4 Final: Dublin 0-19 v Carlow 0-7

Leinster 1/2 Final: Dublin 4-29 v Westmeath 0-10

Leinster Final: Dublin 2-23 v Kildare 1-17

All Ireland 1/4 Final: Dublin 1-19 v Monaghan 0-12

The defending All-Ireland Champions maintain their edge heading into the tie according to the bookies, with Boylesports listing the Dubs as 1/2 favourites. Tyrone are the outside shot at 5/2, with a draw being tipped at 15/2, again via Boylesports.

Consecutive Ulster titles for Mickey Harte’s team – easily the hardest provincial championship – should not be discounted. Harte is now in his 15th season with Tyrone and his teams have evolved as the game has changed. While certain elements of Tyrone’s style have changed, they have always had a well drilled defensive structure which is more than capable of causing problems for Dublin.

The Weekly Observer’s Matt O’Callaghan and Sporting Limerick regular thinks Tyrone side can come away with a win and add a bit more excitement to the championship.

“A much much stronger opposition than Dublin have met so far, this is definitely going to be Dublin’s toughest challenge, probably the toughest challenge since the concluding stages of last years Championship. It’s obvious that Dublin can be beaten.”

Dublin have again cruised their way into an 8th successive All Ireland semi-final along with winning their 7th successive Leinster title on the way and with players like Dean Rock and Paul Flynn showing fine form going into the semi final.

The game on Sunday is definitely a clash of styles with Dublin’s somewhat free flowing attacking football coming up against a very disciplined Tyrone side who pride themselves on a strong and compact defence.

Dublin have been allowed to play that kind of football so far this summer due to the fact the teams they faced simply couldn’t contain them. Could the clash of styles on Sunday be similar to this classic from 05′. From a fans point of view you can only hope.

MUGGED! We're marking day 4 of #30DaysOfGAA looking back to when Owen Mugsy Mulligan made dummies of the Dubs in this drawn QF #DUBvTYR pic.twitter.com/0MRrXHN2mm

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 22, 2017

Sunday, on paper, will be a whole different test for this extremely talented Dublin side due to Tyrone’s defensive unit and O’Callaghan feels this new challenge after a summer of straightforward football for the Dubs will be something new for them to handle

“Tyrone are going to bring a very strong defensive outfit”

“This is going to be totally different, Tyrone are going to come with all guns blazing, Tyrone are going to come with a lot of form, form thats very very difficult to beat, form that shows that they don’t concede scores easily”

“It’s a new type of intensity that Dublin are going to be facing on Sunday”

“Tyrone play very cautiously, their first instinct  is to ensure nothing is given away”

Dublin face Tyrone on Sunday in Croke Park 24 hours after the replayed Kerry – Mayo tie. Either way it promise to be a huge weekend of GAA action and let’s hope both sides can produce the type of drama that Kerry and Mayo served up last weekend.

You can listen to Matt’s thoughts on the Dublin – Tyrone tie in full on the link below.