Connacht

Galway

Manager: John O'Mahony.

All-Irelands: 8 (1998) Connacht: 40 (1998).

1996: Connacht final, btn by Mayo, 3-9/1-11.

1997: First round, btn by Mayo, 1-16/0-15.

1998: All-Ireland champions, bt Kildare 1-14/1-10.

1996-98: P11 W7 D2 L2 73%.

1999: First round v London, June 6th, Ruislip.

Who would bet against them? Quite a few it seems. Although Galway played irresistible football last summer, their winter form has led to a slight revisionism and there is a lurking belief in the west that Mayo or Roscommon may have enough to undo them.

However, the fact is that they still have the best forward unit in the country and one which has already proven itself. The chances are that goalkeeper Martin McNamara, after opting out over the winter, will be back in the fold when they open their campaign against London in Ruislip. But much depends on the durability of Kevin Walsh, who is an integral cog in O'Mahony's game plan and they are a bit vulnerable in crucial defensive positions. They will concede scores but will never be scared of a full-blooded shoot-out. Another run would be worth it for the sequel alone.

Leitrim

Manager: Joe Reynolds.

All-Irelands: O

Connacht: 2 (1994).

1996: Connacht semi-final, btn by Galway, 2-13/2-11.

1997: Connacht semi-final, btn by Mayo, 0-18/0-11.

1998: Connacht semi-final, btn by Galway, 0-5/1-16.

1996-98: P4 W1 D0 L3 25%.

1999: First round v Roscommon, May 30th, Carrickon-Shannon.

A dismal league campaign which culminated in the resignation of Peter McGinnity and relegation. They have gone a season without a win, taking just one point from a possible 12 and their most recent championship memories are of last year's drubbing at the hands of Galway.

Never really recaptured the sense of cause evoked by John O'Mahony in 1994 and have yet to replace Declan Darcy. Roscommon present a forbidding task, even in Carrick.

London

Manager: Tommy McDermott.

All-Irelands: 0

Connacht: O.

1996: Connacht first round, btn by Mayo, 1-11/1-5.

1997: Connacht first round, btn by Leitrim, 2-18/2-13 (aet).

1998: Connacht first round, btn by Sligo, 1-7/0-14.

1996-98: P3 W0 D0 L3 0%.

1999: First round v Galway, June 6th, Ruislip.

The days when London could pluck calibre players from the dust of the building sites are just memories now. They have caused a few championship flutters in recent years, most notably for Leitrim two years back, but this year their presence is purely token. They finished their league campaign with a one-point win against Limerick but have struggled defensively and will concede goals. They can only hope that it doesn't become too grim against Galway.

Mayo

Manager: John Maughan.

All-Irelands: 3 (1951)

Connacht: 37 (1997).

1996: All-Ireland final, btn by Meath (replay) 2-9/1-11 (0-12/1-9).

1997: All-Ireland final, btn by Kerry, 0-13/1-7.

1998: Connacht first round, btn by Galway, 2-6/1-13.

1996-98: P12 W8 D1 L3 71%.

1999: First round v New York, May 29th, Castlebar.

It is possible that greatness may have eluded this current Mayo team, still haunted by two consecutive All-Ireland final losses which were reinforced by Ballina's fall against Crossmaglen in the club championship in March.

Have they enough left for a final fling? They still have thrift - if not quite so much speed - defensively and Liam McHale is due to return to partner Pat Fallon or David Brady for one last golden summer. The attack, though, has been their problem area. Kieran McDonald has departed the panel as much an enigma as when he first joined. John Casey never really built on his initial year and as a unit, they have been guilty of wanton profligacy. Still, Maughan has more than enough skill to patch up the gaps.

New York

Manager: Leslie McGettigan.

1996-98: Not applicable.

1999: First round v Mayo, May 29th, Castlebar.

Even in New York, there is some doubt over the conventional wisdom of this inaugural foray into the All-Ireland championship, a worry that a drubbing would have a lasting damage on the always fickle morale of Big Apple football.

However, they have trained hard since Christmas and demonstrated their fitness and worth in a twogame series against a useful Defence Forces outfit in Gaelic Park last month. The team is based around players from Mayo and Donegal but does contain two American-born players. There goal for Castlebar is to keep the game competitive and that in itself would be an accomplishment.

Roscommon

Manager: Gay Sheerin.

All-Irelands: 2 (1944)

Connacht: 18 (1991).

1996: Connacht semi-final, btn by Mayo, 1-10/2-11.

1997: Connacht semi-final, btn by Sligo, 1-11/1-14.

1998: Connacht final, btn by Galway, (replay) 0-17/117, (0-11/0-11).

1996-98: P6 W1 D2 L3 33%.

1999: First round v Leitrim, May 30th, Carrick-on-Shannon.

Rediscovered their self-belief last summer, when they almost pipped Galway in the Connacht final. Could present thorny problems for Mayo and Galway, the kingpins in the province. Comfortably secured promotion into the top echelon of league football and missed out on the play-offs because of an inferior scoring average to Kerry.

Gritty in defence, they have a strong central spine in Damien Donlon, Don Connellan and Derek Duggan, who is at last returning to form after a protracted spell in the wilderness. Gay Sheerin has done an immense amount for this squad and now that they are familiar with genuine confidence, they have the capacity to tear several dreams asunder.

Sligo

Manager: Mickey Moran.

All-Irelands: 0

Connacht: 2 (1975).

1996: Connacht first round, btn by Galway (replay), 27/0-19 (1-11/1-11).

1997: Connacht final, btn by Mayo, 1-7/0-11.

1998: Connacht semi-final, btn by Roscommon (replay) 0-15/1-13 (1-15/2-12).

1996-98: P7 W2 D2 L3 43%.

1999: Semi-final v London or Galway, Markievicz Park, June 27th.

Were left open-mouthed last year after Roscommon, fancied to go nowhere except out, scalped them in a semi-final replay. Yet they regrouped admirably over the winter, topping Division 2B and pushing Armagh close in the quarter-finals without the outstanding Paul Taylor and three of the their under-21 players, also senior selections.

Although they have been getting closer in recent times, this year's draw is particularly severe. They have a solid midfield pairing in Paul Durcan and Eamonn O'Hara, are reasonably sound in defence but they are unlikely to have the firepower to match Galway.