Manager: John O'Mahony (Ballaghaderreen, Mayo); Selectors: Pete Warren (Tuam Stars), Stephen Joyce (Clonbur).

Galway view

Pete Warren: "Connacht was easy enough in a lot of people's eyes but Kildare in Croke Park was a big test for us. We hadn't played there since '98 and they had played there four times this summer. We went up for the hurling match (Kilkenny v Galway) to get the lads a feel of the pitch and when they went out there it didn't bother them.

"Croke Park's a totally different scene now. In '98 with the Hogan Stand still there, there was a huge crowd either side of the pitch. This year, with only about 1,500 on the Hogan side, the Cusack seemed to draw the play over. The Canal End, with all the seating behind it, makes the goals at that end seem far closer to midfield than in '98. We had learned looking at games like Dublin and Kildare where the balls had dropped short from 40 or 50 yards. So we knew that a ball hit from that distance had to be hit harder. It took getting used to.

"Ja Fallon's injury happened early in the championship. We had to sit down and work without him in the panel. It was a big blow but it happened early enough to let us set it aside. John O'Mahony's contribution has been absolutely brilliant. He does everything thoroughly, to perfection, and the players have huge respect for him. He laid down the line that players should do everything asked of them. No one ever missed training. Everyone must be on time. He got that across. In my personal opinion he's the best in the country.

"The main difference between now and 1998 is that we have huge experience in the panel. They've all been there and seen it. We've won the All-Ireland, we know what it's about."

Opposition view

Kildare selector Paddy Byrne on Galway's management: "You have to hand it to John O'Mahony. His record shows that he has great powers of motivation and you can see it with Galway. The team's strengths are how well motivated they are and the fact that they're great players.

"To be quite honest I'm not so sure about them tactically. If you look back at the semi-final, Michael Donnellan was held back kicking the ball long when he got it. I watched the video and it looked as if it was a plan to avoid Donnellan being smothered because our defence has the name of being like a stone wall. But Glenn Ryan mopped up a lot of ball as a result. Donnellan is a brilliant player and I think it works more in their favour, especially against weaker back lines, if he goes at them with support, laying off the ball.

"Our main problem was the weather. Nearly all players prefer good weather but most teams can adapt to a wet day. We don't adapt that well because of our style. But I would say we were well with them all the way even though John Finn was sent off and a couple of frees went against us. The five subs rule is great for managers because you can hold back a player - like Kevin Walsh or Maurice Fitzgerald - who you might have started before because there was less room for manoeuvre with only three subs allowed.

"Their defence was under pressure but I wouldn't know if they've anything better on the bench. Anyway I think their backs mightn't be as weak as people have been making them out to be. My feeling is they'll prove their doubters wrong."