ALLIANZ NFL division 1 final

mayo v galway Tomorrow (4pm): Croke Park, B Cawley (Kildare) tG4

IT’S On again in Connacht and it’s pretty exciting. The Sam Maguire could very easily go west this year.

it’s been a while since Galway and Mayo were operating at this level in the same season.

Even in 2018 when Galway got to a league final and All-ireland semi-final, Mayo bowed out in the ‘newbridge or nowhere’ game — a Round 3 qualifier.

Then last year, Mayo weren’t really at it when Galway made the All-ireland final.

Part of it is that Dublin are no longer the ultra dominant force they once were. There’s an Allireland there for up to six teams.

Throw in the injection of freshness from Kevin McStay and his management team, and Galway’s progress this spring without five or six regulars from last year, and it’s a potent cocktail.

Galway are a serious proposition defensively now. Clean, yet

ferocious, in the tackle and tactically as players they’re now as good as anyone.

Seán Kelly and John Daly, their defensive pillars, are two of the top players in the country.

The one doubt might still be up front. The value of Damien Comer was plain to see when he came on against Kerry last week.

Galway looked far more confident putting the ball inside knowing he’d almost certainly win it. This gave their game more variety.

if Comer or Shane Walsh are held or injured, will they still score enough?

As for Mayo, the pace of their attacking play has been huge, with more viable inside forward options than they’ve ever

had — Aidan O’Shea, Ryan O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy, James Carr and Cillian O’Connor. O’Donoghue could end up at 11. it also says a lot that no-one has mentioned the defensive absences of lee Keegan and Oisín Mullin — yet.

it’s hard to think Mayo won’t have an eye on the Championship next weekend.

Mayo will never say it, but they’ll be expecting to beat Roscommon tomorrow week to set up a Connacht semi-final encounter with Galway three weeks from now.

There will be nothing in it. Galway probably need a national title more.

Mayo 6/5 Draw 13/2 Gal 10/11 verDict: Galway