Amid all the talk about the deficiencies in the provincial structure, there is no denying that Sunday’s Connacht SFC final between Galway and Roscommon is one that should hold much interest far beyond the borders of the western province.
The general consensus was that Mayo would march on, though not without some examination, to a sixth provincial title on the trot.
However, Kevin Walsh and Galway put pay to that scenario with a surprising, but fully deserved, win over their neighbours in the semi-final at McHale Park on 18 June.
RTÉ analyst John Casey was full of praise for the way the Tribesemen went about their business three weeks ago.
“You have to give Galway massive, massive credit for the win over Mayo,” he said.
“It was the ultimate ambush by Kevin Walsh and his team. Indeed, Walsh speaking to that national and local media before that game was talking about how nobody wanted to play for his team, how brilliant Mayo were, and that they were the only team that could beat Dublin.
“In truth, Galway were more up for it and better prepared on the night.”
Casey was also impressed with the Galway debutants who played their part in a first championship win over their neighbours since 2008.
"The midfield battle is one that I think this game will hinge on"
“They had five debutants against Mayo and they certainly made their names known,” he added.
The likes of Eamonn Brannigan at corner forward had a fine game and scored three points. Johnny Heaney at wing forward also stood out, as did Eoghan Kerin and Declan Kyne in the full-back line.
After a year in which they comfortably retained their top-flight status in the Allianz League, Roscommon were fancied to make the provincial decider.
However, their arrival at this stage has seen a few bumps along the road, with New York giving them a real fright in the preliminary round and Sligo causing more than a few headaches for them in the first half of the semi-final.
That said, scoring 4-10 in the second period against the Yeats County en route to a nine-point success underlines the strength of the Rossies attack.
Casey, though, feels the key battle on Sunday will be at midfield and adds that Roscommon will have to have some joy here.
“The midfield battle is one that I think this game will hinge on,” he predicted.
Cathal Compton and Niall Daly will have to be on their game against Paul Conroy and Tomás Flynn. The latter pair were the leading lights against Mayo. Conroy had an unbelievable game with 31 possessions. Indeed he could have done a little better as he hit a few bad wides in the first half.
Fergal O'Donnell and Kevin McStay will have to target that area. Success there, allied with getting decent ball into an inside forward line that contains the Creggs and Murtaghs will be vital if Roscommon are to win the day.
Another area where Roscommon will focus on is their full-back line, with the former Mayo player adding: "Galway will have looked at that line - a line that is somewhat diminished by the absence of the injured Niall Collins.
“Sean Mullooly, who came in for him in the Sligo game, got ran ragged by Pat Hughes, so that has to be a worry. Sean Purcell at centre-back was also put under considerable pressure from the Sligo defence and a number of gaps opened up as a result”
So who is going to prevail?
Again, Casey goes back to who can get supremacy in the middle.
“If Roscommon can control midfield for a couple of periods during the game, I think they have the firepower up front that can swing it for them.
“They have the likes of Ultan Harney, Senan Kilbride, who was their life-saver in New York and who kick-started the recovery against Sligo, Donal Smith and Cian Connolly to come off the bench.
“All told, an interesting game is in prospect. Roscommon will be very excited about taking part in a contest where ten of their players will be playing in a first Connacht final
"Galway are coming in on a high after knocking Mayo off their perch."
Watch live coverage of Galway v Roscommon on RTE One and the RTE Player from 1.30pm on Sunday 10 July. Highlights of all the weekend's GAA action on The Sunday Game on RTÉ One from 2205.
