Galway have eyes on Four in a row in Connacht

The League is over and the clocks have gone forward. Brighter days, long evenings, Championship football is here. As the Connacht Football Championship kicks off this weekend (April 5/6), a sense of summer life is in the air. The calls of “Hats, flags, and headbands” will be heard right across venues starting this weekend. From Ruislip to the Bronx, Castlebar to Roscommon, Carrick on Shannon to Sligo, that typical traffic in Sunny Salthill, The Connacht Championship is here, and big clashes are expected in the next few weeks.

Starting off this Saturday afternoon, Roscommon make the short flight across the water, where they face a London side that struggled in Division Four of the League. Davy Burke’s Roscommon gained promotion to the top flight, where they’ll join neighbours, Mayo and Galway next season. They might’ve missed out on silverware last weekend, but the Rossie’s will be focused on Connacht, where they last tasted success in 2019. No doubt London are growing year on year with the additions of homegrown players becoming more popular, which is great to see. Roscommon will surely have too much firepower this weekend, and the main aim will be to progress through the opener without any injuries.

Sunday afternoon, Tony McEntee’s Sligo travel West to face Mayo in Castlebar. Mayo, who were deemed fortunate to finish in the top spot in Division One, couldn’t get over the line in the League decider against Kerry, in which they put up a poor display, kicking just 1-12. Sligo started their league campaign slowly but finished strongly, although many were expecting a challenge to promotion for McEntee’s Sligo. Kevin McStay’s Mayo are coming into this with many questions to answer on the back of that poor performance against Kerry. Bookmakers are predicting an eight-point winning margin for the home side. However, it could be a bit closer than that margin predicts. The Sligo manager was previously involved with Mayo, while Sligo’s forwards coach is one of Mayo’s greatest footballers, in Kevin McLoughlin. An interesting game awaits, but Mayo should have enough to march onto the Connacht Semi, where they will then face Leitrim (Away).

Each Year, New York has the pleasure of welcoming a county to the Bronx, and this year it’s the reigning champions, Galway. A great occasion is expected with so many Galway people living in New York and with a large number of supporters set to travel; no doubt there will be plenty representing the maroon colours. Galway, going for four Connacht titles in a row, will have no problems on the pitch on this visit, with no disrespect to New York, but these two sides are operating at different levels.

On the weekend of April 19/20, the two Connacht Championship semi-finals will take place. It looks like Leitrim will host Mayo while Galway will face Roscommon in Salthill. Roscommon have proved in the past they know how to win in Salthill, doing it most noticeably in the 2019 decider. Likewise, in Roscommon, there is huge pressure in Mayo for Kevin McStay to deliver silverware. The people of Mayo are sick of their neighbours winning Connacht the last while. Three in a row complete last year; Galway are becoming familiar with the JJ Nestor cup. Mayo will be hungry, while Roscommon are always one to watch. Firepower is plentiful in attack, they can be deadly on their day. Sligo, an upcoming team, is now too early for them? Probably, but they should not be underestimated. Galway? The current Kingpins, can they continue their groove? They’ll have to take care of Roscommon prior to a potential Connacht Final showdown with Mayo.

Connacht Championship Preview Prediction: Mayo to overcome Sligo while then comfortably overcoming Leitrim with a Connacht Final slot booked. Galway to start off against New York in style before dismantling Roscommon in a competitive game. The clash many are expecting in the final: Mayo and Galway. A 50/50 call, but Mayo could take revenge and win their 48th Nestor Cup. Galway searching for four in a row will be difficult to do in particularly if they meet Mayo in Castlebar. Mayo could rise to the occasion and secure silverware, but Galway could have the last laugh. Last season in Ulster, Donegal won the Ulster Championship, beating Armagh in the final, although Armagh went on to win the big one in July. Could this be similar in Connacht? Mayo to win Connacht and Galway to win the All-Ireland, it’s definitely possible.