Tomorrow's Bank of Ireland Connacht football semi-final at Markievicz Park is in many ways a perfect match for All-Ireland champions Galway. Sligo have a deserved reputation as an improving young side with some good championship performances behind them, but they appear to lack the strength-in-depth to meet the challenge of the champions.
As ever in matches like this, the outcome is largely in the hands of the favourites. Any complacency can land them in trouble, but if they put on a solid display, it's hard to see them losing. The fact that they are carrying some fitness doubts is in itself a further advantage.
No one could argue that the absence of Niall Finnegan and possible absence of Jarlath Fallon won't weaken the team, but having to take the field without two scoring forwards is going to make Galway very wary and less prone to losing concentration.
Their strengths as a side were very much built around the attack, which is now weakened, but Galway have sufficient reserves to limit the damage if not quite compensate. Michael Donnellan returns to the team after missing the London match and depending on his condition, can add a lot of pace to the forwards.
His brother John comes in for a first championship match since a very impressive debut against Mayo in Tuam two years ago when he kicked 0-4 from play. Absent last year because of injury, he now has the chance to stake a claim for more permanent inclusion.
Other welcome returns from the champions' perspective are Kevin Walsh and Tomas Mannion at centre-field and corner back. The evidence of the London match suggests that the team will be strengthened compared to the first-round match in London. In Ruislip, the team's concentration wavered and at times London presented more of a challenge than expected.
Manager John O'Mahony acknowledges the dangers of reprising such listlessness tomorrow. Sligo are strong around the middle. Eamonn O'Hara and Paul Durcan are a complementary pairing and O'Hara in particular can exploit a lack of mobility in the Galway sector. They will probably be assisted in the area by a third man, helping to crowd the middle and giving captain and All Star nominee Paul Taylor and Sligo Rovers's Sean Flannery some space to manoeuvre in the fullforward line.
Sligo are also hit by injuries with Sean Davey and Dessie Sloyane missing although the latter may make an appearance at some stage. The build-up has been positive enough for Sligo. They are underdogs and not under much pressure but their encouraging displays in the last few years disguise a certain inability to take command of a match which has fallen their way, whether by surprise or not.
In the last four years, Sligo have played all the big guns in the province on nine occasions. Four have been draws, four have been defeats and only once have Sligo recorded a win - over Roscommon two years ago. Taken positively, the record shows that the home side drew twice with Galway in 1995 and '96 before losing the replay.
Less positively, it suggests a team that has difficulties putting matches away when the chance presents itself. This year's track record has been similarly mixed. Although there was a good league run which culminated in promotion, the very real opportunity to beat Armagh in a monsoon was sacrificed in order to rest under21s for a provincial final they lost anyway. The experience of playing Dublin in Croke Park might have been more useful with tomorrow in mind.
Team Line-Outs
SLIGO: P Walsh; J Joyce, C White, M Cosgove; N McGuire, N Clancy, AN Other; E O'Hara, P Durcan; E Cawley, B Walsh, K Killeen; S Flannery, P Taylor (c), G McGowan.
GALWAY: M McNamara; T Meehan, G Fahy, T Mannion; R Silke (c), J Divilly, S de Paor; K Walsh, S O Domhnaill; M Donnellan, An Other, P Clancy; D Savage, P Joyce, J Donnellan.
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