PREVIEW:THE STRANGE fascination of this provincial pairing, in its way as sparkling but ultimately doomed as Burton and Taylor, endures.
Neither side is likely to be still around when the Sam Maguire is on show but that could equally have been said in four of the past 15 years and would have proved incorrect.
But these days the counties’ grip on Connacht isn’t even that secure with two of the past four provincial titles going elsewhere.
It’s hard to identify which team is at more of a disadvantage: Mayo after a near-death experience in Ruislip or Galway after a dismal league and without the benefit of a championship match under their belt.
The belief here is that Galway are in the less favourable position. On top of the ring-rustiness they are missing important forwards in Seán Armstrong, Nicky Joyce and of course Michael Meehan. The last named is fit for the bench but has so little match practice that it’s hard to see him influencing matters.
Either the team do well enough without him to facilitate an acclimatising run-out or else he’s needed to save the match, which would be an unreasonable burden on even his powers at the moment.
Still the sight of him warming up won’t do much for Mayo’s peace of mind. They have struggled in defence and will feel under enough pressure trying to control the evergreen Pádraic Joyce. The selection of Paul Conroy at full forward would also suggest that Tomás Ó Flatharta has in mind for his team to vary their options and go long when possible.
But it’s reasonable to expect a strong enough rebound from the London embarrassment and a far better performance in winning possession. That would enable at least a subsistence diet to get through to Alan Freeman and league hot-shot Jason Doherty. Fed to any extent, they will do the rest.
In the last episode: Two years ago in Pearse Stadium, just when it looked as if Meehan's goal had delivered an unlikely draw for the home side, Peadar Gardiner broke down the wing and conjured out of somewhere the winning point for Mayo's first championship success in Salthill since 1967.
You bet: Mayo are 5 to 6, Galway 13 to 10 and 7 to 1 the draw (70 minutes).
On your marks: Mayo bring together the O'Shea brothers, Seámus and Aidan, at centrefield in an attempt to remedy the inability to win ball in the middle third, which nearly consigned them to sensational defeat in London. That presence comes at the expense of mobility against Finian Hanley and Joe Bergin.
Gaining ground: Part of the inscrutability of the fixture is that home venue hasn't made a huge difference recently. The last two encounters, in 2009 and '08, have gone to the away team and it's five years since Mayo have beaten Galway in Castlebar in the championship
Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€30), sideline seats (€25), Juvenile (€5). Terrace (€20 – no concessions). Students and OAPs can get €15 rebate.
Crystal gazing: Mayo narrowly.
MAYO: R Hennelly; T Cunniffe, A Feeney, K Higgins; R Feeney, D Vaughan, T Mortimer; S O'Shea, A O'Shea; K McLoughlin, A Dillon (capt), A Moran; C O'Connor, A Freeman, J Doherty.
GALWAY: A Faherty; A Burke, C Forde, J Duane; G O'Donnell, G Higgins, G Sice; J Bergin, F Hanley (capt); O Concannon, M Hehir, G Bradshaw; P Joyce, P Conroy, C Bane.
Referee: R Hickey(Clare).
Venue: Castlebar Time: Tomorrow, 2pm On TV: Live on RTÉ 2
