So forceful was the blow that hit Sligo footballers last summer when they were hammered by Galway in the Connacht semi-final, it might be expected the bruises have yet to fully heal. Yet the task facing them on Sunday against Mayo in the championship is such noone can afford to dwell on old wounds.

Meeting Mayo in Castlebar is a huge test for Sligo at any time. At a time when they are league champions and built around the All-Ireland club champions, it's the sort of game where the spirit and desire will have to be burning. Anything less could see a repeat of last year.

Having handed Mayo a shock defeat in the Connacht quarterfinal, a confident Sligo played host to Galway on a July afternoon at Markievcz Park. Some 70 minutes later, Sligo had scored a total of 0-4 and Galway marched on 18-point winners.

Even experienced players like centre forward Paul Taylor found it hard to explain. "Galway seemed to be totally on fire and we hit a bad day," he recalls. "It all went very wrong and it was something that stuck with us for a while."

So began the healing process. Players skipped their post-season break and under new manager Peter Ford, they suffered just two losses over the entire league campaign and so set up a semi-final meeting with Galway.

For Taylor, however, that game still didn't remove all the scars. "It was as close as you are going to get to championship football but again, we did fall apart a little bit on the day. It was back to the drawing board to start the hard work again."

Having played with and then managed the Mayo team for a number of years, Ford has the opportunity to do what Galway's John Tobin did for Roscommon last weekend - help bring down his native county.

"Well, we haven't been thinking too much about what happened with Roscommon," says Taylor. "Of course, they played really well, worked so hard for each other, and any team that goes to Tuam and beats Galway deserves full credit.

"But we know Mayo's confidence is very strong right now. Their league run was exceptional and they looked to be so fit and hungry in the league final. And they have those young players coming through who are making the difference. We know we will have to play out of our skins to beat them." While Mayo have enjoyed consistent success at minor and under-21 level, Sligo have a much smaller pool of emerging talent. Earlier this year, the under-21 side beat Galway, the defending Connacht champions, and Taylor believes younger players like Brendan Philips and Mark Breheny can figure strongly in the years ahead.

"But they have to want it. It's very important for young players between 18 and 21 to have the desire to make it. Sligo do have four of five younger players on the panel, but, of course, success in the county will always mean more younger players getting involved."

Taylor is quick to recognise the hard work put in by former boss Mickey Moran. "What happened last year was definitely not a reflection of what he did as a manager. It was just a bad day for everyone. Having said that, a new manager always brings some new urgency into a team and there's no doubt that Peter Ford knows what this game is about.

"He is a new face but he respects us and the players respect him. I think he has a very confident approach which is always important because that comes across to the players as well."