CONNACHT SFC SEMI-FINAL
Sligo v Mayo Tomorrow, 3.30pm McHale Park, Castlebar
A STRANGE day beckons around Castlebar. Mayo come out fielding a promising team but one that looks somehow diminished in the absence of two of the most colourful and remarkable football characters of recent times, Ciarán McDonald and David Brady.
Brady is happily retired, but the absence of the Crossmolina original is more contentious.
Either way, John O'Mahony has, after a league of trial, error and little real luck picked a brave team of considerable potential.
There are questions. Can Austin O'Malley carry that howitzer shot into the All-Ireland championship?
Will Peadar Gardiner profit at wing forward?
How will Mayo look without McDonald pulling the strings?
You could argue Sligo are the more battle-hardened team here. Allowing for the absence of captain Noel McGuire, they have last year's Connacht title heroes intact.
A rough experience in Division Three knocked any lingering sense of wine and roses out of them.
But it should be noted they hung tough against Fermanagh, Down and Wexford, counties making waves in recent weeks.
They have met Mayo three times this decade and each game has been close. The difference is that now Sligo know how to win. Mayo's star may have diminished in recent years, but if they get on a roll, they are capable of going a long way in the championship.
They are without Alan Dillon here, but Trevor Mortimer is fit again and brings a bustling, unpredictable quality to the team.
MAYO: D Clare; C Boyle, K Conroy, K Higgins; T Cunniffe, D Heaney, J Nallen; R McGarrity, T Parsons; P Gardiner, P Harte, T Mortimer; C Mortimer, A O'Malley, A Moran.
SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison. P Naughton, R Donovan; P McGovern, M McNamara, E McHugh; E O'Hara, K Quinn; B Curran, B Egan, J Davey; G Gaughan, M Brehony, D Kelly.
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
Guidelines
In the last episode: It is five years since these teams met and 2003 was a fairly forgettable All-Ireland for both. Sligo failed to build on their stirring campaign of the previous summer, when they caused a sensation by defeating Tyrone in Croke Park and pushed Armagh to the brink. The 0-14 to 0-11 loss to Mayo seemed to take the wind out of their sails and they exited after a timid qualifying loss to Donegal.
On your marks: Supremacy at midfield is always crucial and should tell a tale here. The match-up is fascinating. Mayo come in with Ronan McGarrity, who has become the leading figure on the team, and Tom Parsons, a young player of great promise, but no great experience. Sligo have the cult figure that is Eamonn O'Hara and Kieran Quinn, an underrated footballer who can challenge McGarrity in the air.
You bet: That Sligo have not won here since 1975 may have deepened the available odds of 11/2. Mayo are quoted at 2/13. A draw is 10/1.
Gaining ground: Few visiting teams get much change out of McHale Park.
Just the ticket:This is an all-ticket encounter with stand prices at €30 and sideline tickets €20.
CRYSTAL GAZING: This is a significant test for Mayo, who were uneven in the league. Sligo will come with plenty of motivation and a few subtle changes to personnel that should make it a fascinating game, but Mayo can get their season going on the right note.
