Colm Cooper and Colm O'Rourke believe Galway have already made significant progress under new manager Padraic Joyce and are expecting a major improvement from 2019.
Despite two provincial titles in Kevin Walsh’s five years in charge, as well as defeats to champions Dublin in the 2018 League semi-final and that year’s All-Ireland semi-final, there was criticism in many quarters for the 'safety-first’ approach adopted by the Tribesmen.
Galway opened their League account with a late rally to defeat Monaghan, while in Tralee on Saturday night they were the victims of a Kerry ambush.
Paul Geaney struck for Kerry's only goal in the 71st minute to level the scores and Killian Spillane nailed the winning point in the 74th and penultimate minute.
They impressed for large portions of the game and the League Sunday panellists were asked whether both teams could prove to be Dublin’s biggest challengers in 2020?
"Kerry have put themselves on a pedestal and they are in that bracket," Cooper told viewers. "They are quite entitled to be talked about being around Dublin.
"Galway are a work in progress. I was very encouraged by what I saw last night. Their game has evolved under Padraic Joyce. You see that when corner-backs are coming up getting goals.
"They have an extra bit of energy in them. Even looking at Joyce on the sideline, that passion is really coming out and we are seeing the best in Galway
"For Kerry, it was a smash-and-grab and Galway certainly deserved to get something out of the game."
Kerry and Galway played out an entertaining game in Tralee. Are they Dublin's most likely challengers in 2020? @colmcooper13 and Colm O’Rourke have their say #LeagueSunday pic.twitter.com/i8YqDM2XAW
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 2, 2020
Fellow analysts O’Rourke, who has been highly critical of Galway’s overly cautious approach in recent seasons, says Joyce has reinvigorated the county.
"I would think Galway are going to be a top-four team this year. You could see Padraic Joyce’s visible frustration because he knows they let the game slip.
"He has brought a bit of buzz and excitement. Certainly Galway in their first two league game have played with far more flair than they have under Kevin Walsh, when they played a very conservative kind of football.
It's more entertaining for the public and I’d say it’s nicer for the players to be involved in
"They have moved away from a defensive wall. They are trying to keep their scorers close to goal and playing much more direct football.
"It’s more entertaining for the public and I’d say it’s nicer for the players to be involved in."
