With Sligo and Laois both coming close to major upsets, it is worth recalling their records against their respective historical betters, Galway and Dublin.

Sligo: v Galway - Played: 26. Won: 3. Drawn: 2. Lost: 21.

Last success: June 1975: Sligo 1-13, Galway 0-6 - Markievicz Pk

Sligo's success that day was underwritten by the performance of Mickey Kearins, who scored 10 points, six from play. "Kearins is to Sligo what Beckenbauer is to West German soccer teams, the man whom it all revolves around," gushed The Irish Times report of the match. As for Galway, "they stumbled blindly from one error to another and at the end were rather generously treated by the scoreline".

Laois: v Dublin - Played: 24. Won: 4. Drawn: 2. Lost: 18.

Last success: July 1981: Laois 2-9 Dublin 0-11 - Tullamore

Despite an eight-point contribution from Dublin's Anto McCaul, Laois qualified for their first Leinster final for 14 years. In a barnstorming final 10 minutes, they kept Dublin scoreless while building on the lead established by John Costelloe's fisted goal in the 56th minute. Laois could even afford to miss a second-half penalty, John O'Leary saving from Tom Prendergast, having been beaten from the spot by Prendergast in the first half.