Sligo meet Galway in the second Connacht semi-final tomorrow, reinforced with the knowledge that this tie represents their best chance of provincial glory for years. They face a weakened Galway side, who will struggle to find a worthy replacement for Ja Fallon, who was dramatically ruled out earlier in the week with injury.
The Tribesmen, three times their conquerors in the last five years, have only had New York to negotiate thus far, and for long periods of that match they struggled to reproduce the form that brought them All Ireland success in 1998. Doubts still remain about the fitness of key men such as De Paor and Divilly (although De Paor has said he will have recovered in time), but Tomas Mannion and Kevin Walsh, together with Fallon, will take some replacing.
Sligo hopes will rest with the county's traditional favourites, and much will depend on their ability to cope with the pressure of an expectant and vocal home crowd. Markievicz Park will be full of optimistic Sligonians, who will be demanding a repeat of their defeat of Mayo. Eamon O'Hara, long the county's outstanding individual performer, will start at midfield, and his influence on proceedings will be crucial. If he can provide the forwards with quality ball, Paul Taylor, John McPartland, Dessie Sloyane and Co. have already proven that they are capable of punishing the most diligent of defences.
The absence of Nigel Clancy, arguably their best defender, has not affected Sligo's confidence, and as Galway are without their most potent weapon, they will feel confident of realising their recent potential and book their place against Leitrim in the Connacht Final. In Padraig Joyce, Galway boast one of the most feared forwards in the game, but if his impact can be checked then Mickey Moran's men should have enough in their own armoury to unsettle Galway, and may make him postpone his retirement just a little bit longer.
