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It was honours even at Croke Park last Sunday. Donall Farmer/INPHO
we go again

The 5 key factors that will decide Dublin and Galway’s Leinster hurling replay

They go again at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Updated at 22.00

1. Who’ll ‘Mark’ Schutte?

Galway boss Anthony Cunningham must be tempted to start Padraig Mannion on Dublin dangerman Mark Schutte.

The Cuala forward ran riot on Johnny Coen last Sunday but Mannion did quite a good job when he eventually moved across to pick up Schutte.

He finished with three points from play and carried some of his scintillating Allianz League form into the championship but Schutte’s influence on the drawn game diminished as it progressed.

Mark Schutte with Padraig Mannion Galway's Padraig Mannion did well when he was moved across to pick up Dublin's Mark Schutte. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin boss Ger Cunningham will be anxious to ensure that Schutte remains a consistently dangerous figure in Dublin’s inside line from first whistle to last.

If Mannion picks up Schutte from the start and shuts him down, Cunningham may elect to bring the powerful attacker to the half-forward line in an attempt to get him into the game.

2. Will we see a different Joe Canning?

If it’s true that Canning played with 16 stitches in a hand wound last Sunday, well that’s a superhuman feat in itself.

The extra six days will have allowed the injury to heal and that could spell bad news for Dublin.

Joe Canning reacts Joe Canning reacts to a missed goal chance. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Canning’s touch was uncharacteristically off-colour at times in the drawn match but the nasty injury sustained in a recent challenge match is the reason for that.

How Canning missed that open goal in the first half we’ll never quite know but the Portumna superstar should be more like his normal self in Tullamore.

Canning hit six points last weekend but just one of those was from play.

3. Dublin’s lack of a killer instinct

In their last two games of major consequence, Dublin have blown winning positions.

They were 12 points clear of Cork in the Allianz League semi-final but somehow allowed the Rebels back into contention.

Last Sunday, David Treacy had the chance to put the Sky Blues two points clear late on but missed a free that he would normally convert.

David Treacy Will Dublin live to rue David Treacy's missed free last Sunday? Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

In pressure situations, Dublin need to find the killer instinct that marks out potential champions from pretenders.

There is undoubted talent in Dublin’s ranks but defeat in the replay would see old doubts resurface.

4. Liam Rushe

Rushe scored two points last Sunday and produced some big moments when Dublin needed him most, particularly in the second half.

But if Peter Kelly is ruled out through injury, boss Ger Cunningham could be tempted to restore Rushe to a defensive role.

Kelly’s form, or lack thereof, is a concern and he was prone to potentially costly errors before going off with a hamstring injury last Sunday.

Liam Rushe Could Liam Rushe switch from attack to defence? Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

But with Rushe operating in attack, Kelly and Conal Keaney are the most natural leaders in Dublin’s defence since Stephen Hiney retired.

The good thing from Cunningham’s point of view is that he has strength in depth to call upon if he feels the time is right to drop Rushe deeper again, with Paul Ryan itching for a start in attack.

5. Who’s learned more from the first instalment?

A clear Dublin tactic saw them arrow diagonal ball in the direction of Mark Schutte, who gave Johnny Coen a torrid time.

But Schutte had yards of space in which to work in as Coen was left hopelessly isolated with the lethal marksman.

Galway boss Anthony Cunningham could opt to drop his half back line back five yards to cover the space but he will also demand more work-rate from his players around the middle third of the field to stem the initial supply.

Shane Durkin tackles Cathal Mannion Cathal Mannion was a thorn in Dublin's side. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

If Schutte is the man that Galway need to shackle, Cathal Mannion is in a similar bracket at the other end of the pitch.

Galway’s deep-lying half forwards provided Mannion with the space to roam into and the Ahascragh/Fohenagh star was a constant menace.

Recovery and video analysis will have been the name of the game since the final whistle blew at Croke Park and forensic study of the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses contains the key to replay success.

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