The Connacht Council will meet this evening to iron out the reigning confusion over the FBD League clash between old rivals Mayo and Galway.

After Sunday's match, which Mayo won 2-14 to 0-07, Galway seemed set to advance to the final on scoring difference. However, it emerged afterwards that the computation circulated had been mistaken and that Galway could not afford the 14-point cushion they felt was theirs to use.

"That was the information given to us before the match, and even on the Saturday evening we felt we had that breathing space," said Galway manager John O'Mahony yesterday.

With the Galway squad already depleted due to the division of students among the third level teams competing in the league, facing Mayo was always going to be a tall order and the knowledge of the 14-point spread probably dictated the team's mindset to some degree.

"Of course it had some effect," responded O'Mahony.

"It was quite frustrating, especially given that the team was depleted to begin with. But we will wait and see what decision is made by the Connacht Council and we will abide by that."

In recent years, the appeal of the league has been heightened by the bonus of a trip to New York for the winners. There is some speculation that the outcome of this evening's meeting may be a replay between the teams, although the impending National League may render that a fixtures headache.

The scoring average system was introduced with the precise intention of eliminating congestive replay fixtures. The meeting will take place this evening in Ballyhaunis. Galway play Donegal in Pearse Stadium on Sunday while Mayo host Sligo.

Although Crossmolina playmaker Kieran McDonald played no part in the controversial match, he is expected to return to Mayo colours under John Maughan's latest spell in charge at the weekend.

"The New York element obviously makes it more appealing, but really mainly it was just the disappointment of losing out in a competition when we felt we had done enough," said O'Mahony.

A bad weekend for Galway began when Michael Cloherty, a member of the 1998 championship panel and recalled for Saturday evening's game against NUIG, fell badly and broke both his jaw and wrist playing for the county. He is expected to be out of the game for a considerable period.

Meanwhile, the GAA is considering a response to the message delivered by the Gaelic Player's Association that underlined its intention to persevere with an existence independent of Croke Park.

There had been hopes that improving relations might lead to an entente cordiale between the association and the player's group, which has been aggressively pioneering for improved conditions for its members for over three years.

Jarlath Burns, chairman of the official Gaelic Players Association, was yesterday reluctant to comment in depth on the meeting but did not regard the general message as a setback.

"I think that they just want to be independent and to fit into the GAA family.

"If they are going to sit on Central Council, at least it shows a willingness to debate whether to come into the GAA democracy, " he said.

Despite praising the work that Burns carried out on behalf of the GAA, the GPA have indicated that its members will not participate in the election of the new committee due to be assembled in April.

Burns intends sitting down to discuss the GPA's policy with out-going president Seán McCague and president-elect Seán Kelly before offering a formal response.