If you happen to be mingling with Mayo folk in advance of Sunday’s Connacht Senior Football Championship final and they’re bowling you over with gushing praise for the quality of this Galway team - while also at the same time talking down their own prospects - my advice would be to smile, nod, and say the bare minimum.
Certainly, offer nothing that could be used as possible ammunition in any future verbal joust amongst rivals.
Irrespective of any attempted Academy Award-winning acting, you’re being sold a pup. Because there isn’t a Mayo supporter out there who, deep down, doesn’t believe that their side can turn over Galway and capture the Nestor Cup. And, you know what, they’re right.
Sure, they might not be among the frontrunners for Sam Maguire, but they remain an extremely dangerous team, especially in fixtures fraught with chaos.
Rivals collide
Rivalries are funny. It’s rare in any sport that two neighbours are at the peak of their powers at the same stage. On this side of the border, we know exactly how it feels to play second fiddle on the national stage.
As we enviously watched Mayo continuously advance to the latter stages of the All-Ireland series earlier this century (2016 stands out in that regard ), Galway finally ended the green and red men’s reign after five in-a-row, but Mayo were still able to dust themselves down and recover to reach the All-Ireland decider that September, where they fell short against the Dubs.
Now the shoe appears to be on the other foot. It wouldn’t be in the slightest bit surprising if Galway suffered defeat but then rebounded to go all the way. Under this new championship structure, provincials have unquestionably lost an element of prestige and Galway supporters would also gladly trade defeat on Sunday to see Seán Kelly climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand this July.
But border bragging rights are still priceless currency, and you can never beat the neighbours enough times or by enough. Andy Moran, 2013, anyone?
On present form, Galway should win. They’ve a better spread of scoring forwards; the recent rule changes seem to suit them far more; we have greater muscle and size around the middle of the field to really go after Colm Reape’s kickouts; and, to put it bluntly, Galway look an all-round better team.
Admittedly, Mayo surprisingly did make a league final, but on a game-by-game basis, could you honestly say they enjoyed a better campaign than us? I, personally, wouldn’t say so.
Mayo to bring everything
Even still, I fully expect Mayo to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at this one. This Connacht final is their biggest game of the year and has been their primary focus for months. Can you say the same for Galway? Probably not.
Realistically, it’s likely to be Mayo’s only genuine shot at silverware left, and players and supporters alike will be gunning for Galway. The Tribesmen can expect a raucous Castlebar welcome, and the job for players and management will be to quell that noise from the offset in a clinical and professional manner.
If local murmurings are to be believed, Mayo have trained hard throughout their Connacht campaign so far and, tellingly, are reputed to have even had a challenge game a few days before their clash with Leitrim. This could explain why they somewhat laboured to victory against Sligo and Leitrim.
Further local ear-to-ground commentary suggests that All-Star defender Paddy Durcan could be in line for a spot on the 26, after a lengthy injury layoff due to the dreaded cruciate. A further shot in the arm.
Galway selection headaches
From a Galway standpoint, Joyce has something of a welcome selection headache. Especially with Damien Comer back and if Shane Walsh is declared fit. Who drops out from a starting forward unit that functioned so well in tearing Roscommon apart? Better to have too many options than not enough, however.
Last year, a controversial free-kick award by David Gough - who later curiously admitted he made the wrong decision in the media - converted by Connor Gleeson swung the tide. One can expect fine margins again, even if the odds compilers lean towards Galway having a three-point advantage.
Hurlers rebound
Though there was trepidation in advance of their visit to O’Connor Park, the Galway hurlers swatted aside a limited Offaly outfit to get their season back on track, with Cathal Mannion, TJ Brennan, and Colm Molloy all shining for Micheál Donoghue’s men.
Three huge ties await versus Wexford, Antrim, and Dublin, with the first two in Pearse Stadium. Those will determine the year overall.
