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Geraghty did play midfield in last year's championship. London are much better prepared this year and have a few decent challenges under their belt and should keep it tight enough. Expect them to try pack out their defence and use McMenamin up front on break. Could take a scalp in Qualifiers

My mistake, then. I was at both games - I honestly can't remember Geraghty lining out in the CSFC. I clearly remember him in the Tommy Murphy cup, though. It took extra time to see off a Sligo team who really didn't care that day.
It looks a strong Galway team on paper. That bet about Meehan being the championship's top scorer looks interesting. I see he's 8-1 at Powers. Could run up a good score tomorrow. Expect to see him down to about 6-1, 5-1 after tomorrow.
Given the great weather we have in London at the moment, there should be a bumper crowd.
If you're coming over, don't forget the sunscreen.

Geraghty didn't play championship football for London last year. Came on the panel in time for the Tommy Murphy Cup. London beat Sligo in Ruislip in the Murphy cup about a month after losing to the same opposition in the championship.
You never know who will feature for London from one game to the next, let alone from one season to the next.
Last year Chris Donnellan was the most effective forward for London. Would be a loss if he doesn't feature this year.
Anyone coming over?
Where will people be drinking after?

I believe Kerins has concussion though and is unlikely to play.....very big loss idf thats correct as hes definitely one of the more reliable big game players. Hard to know what the half forward line will be......Ger seems intent on playing Tannian on the wing altough if he can get Tannian going Id say he would give Curran his fill of it at 11. He'd hardly go with Donnellan at 11 would he?? Skehill would want to be cute with the puck outs anyway......last thing we want is everything raining down on Gardiner, Curran and O'Hailpin
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John McIntyre was interviewed on drivetime sport last night. According to him, Alan Kerins is definately out. Fergal Moore remains a doubt, while John Lee has gone down with food poisoning. God help us if they were to miss out.
I hate the idea of going into a do or die game without any sort of test beforehand.
Cork dominated Tipp for large parts of that match and but for wayward shooting would have been out of sight with ten minutes to go, before Tipp got on top and finished with a flourish. At one point of the second half, Gardiner sent the ball wide from under the stand, Cummins pucked out into the hands of a Cork forward (Pa Cronin?) who promptly drove wide from the centre of the pitch. Two wides in the space of fifteen seconds. I can't see Cork being so profligate this weekend.
Add into that, the drubbings Kilkenny have given us in Thurles in recent years and you'll know why I'm getting more and more nervous as the game approaches.

Back to Galway I have to say Im becoming more optimistic since the match particularly because of our squad depth. I would agree that Fitzy and Meehan should come back the next day moving Bradshaw out to half back. We have quality defensive subs in Coyne, Sice and Mullahy. At one stage this year this looked our most likey starting half-back line.

Bergin and Lydon offer reasonable cover at midfield even though this area is likely to be our downfall. Up front, Conroy and Army are excellent subs to be able to bring on.

Paul Conroy's point near the death the last day fills me confidence for both his and Galway's future. He kicked an embarrassing wide after coming on yet at only 19 showed some attitude in kicking the next score. What made it even more impressive was the fact he had space to run into and maybe fist it over the bar yet he had the confidence to take it on.

What gives me a confidence boost is the way we closed out the game. So many times in the past we have seen Galway teams disintegrate when their opponents have hawled backed a big lead. It was great to see the team regroup and finish the match strongly.
And as you point out, this was in no small part down to the quality of subs Sammon was able to make.
Conroy looks a great prospect. You rightly highlight the bad miss he made shortly after his introduction. He was then harshly penalised for over carrrying which resulted in Mayo kicking a free to regain the lead with only about 5 minutes to go. In that context his point was a mighty one, considering the space he had to run into which would have made his score so much easier.
Bane also decided to kick from distance when he had enough support to be able to work the ball closer to goal.
The players' confidence certainly instils more confidence in the supporters.
The panel is stronger than it's been for years but there is so much to work on to even win a quarter final, never mind go the whole way.

from an outside perspective.
mayo have a clear advantage at midfield.
galway have a clear advantage up front in the sense that the galway defence is better on paper than mayo's.

If Galway break 50/50 at midfield i think they will win but if mayo can come out on top there they may win out. the best way to protect a suspect defence is with a good midfield. if the galway forwards get enough ball they could run the mayo defence ragged.

I don't necessarily see Galway as having a better defence. Bradshaw is unproven, Burke has been poor this season and Blake is coming back from a long time out so might not be match fit. I really worry about our defence. Particularly when you consider the amount of scorable frees we conceded to Leitrim the last day, and the chances Roscommon were afforded.
At midfield, I see Breathnach coming back to help out but I still think this is a real problem area for Galway. Bergin's return can't come soon enough, although like Blake, he'll need time to prove match fit.
I'd have Nicky inside next to Meehan as when he plays in the half-forwards he has an annoying tendency to solo into blind alleys. At least further up the posts will come into view soon enough.

I was going to say that being a Galway fan from London that I will save my money for the hurlers this summer. Mayo fans only have one team to follow. If McHale Park is half full next week I can understand. Following two teams can be very expensive - especially given the prices the Connacht council charge.
Win or lose, there's another day for both of us. The hurlers have no second chance now.
I'm still paying back the interest on 2001. Oh happy days.

I wonder will there be many empty seats in Pairc Mhic Eil on Sunday week? Doesn't seem to be as much excitement about a Connacht final as there would have been in recent years for what I'm hearing. And that's probably the case for both counties.

I suppose in other years both counties would have had ambitions of making serious inroads towards an All-Ireland final. This year a Connacht title would appear to be the height of both counties ambitions. Can we conclude therefore that the fans of both counties aren't really too pushed about a provincial title judging by the lack of hype ahead of Sunday week?

If there was serious prospects of one or other of them making a real dent in the championship I think it would be a different story.

Certainly I would have taken a Connacht title at the start of the year because I didn't and don't see a whole lot more in offer but I'm finding it hard to get excited about the game. Hopefully that'll change

Liam Hayes slating McDanger, that Hayes is a d1ck

Watch this

http://gaa.tv3.ie/video.php?video_request=176

Hayes will say any old shite to be controversial. He makes Eamonn Dunphy seem rational.

Of course, Finnegan scored that huge free in injury time in Tuam to draw the Connacht final against Ros. No good winning in Castlebar if you follow up with defeat to Ros.
Going back to that 95 team, the Connacht final in Tuam that year was one of the most one sided finals in memory. Mayo were woeful that that. Who was Mayo's manager that year? Jack O'Shea?
That match was preceeded with a great minor final that witnessed the emergence of Donnellan and Savage; although I don't recall PJ playing that day.