Preview Galway v Roscommon: Last year seemed to close a chapter on the rivalry between these counties. Before that comprehensive defeat, Roscommon had unwittingly found themselves at the centre of Galway's two All-Ireland victories.
In both 1998 and 2001, difficulties posed by their neighbours had helped John O'Mahony's team streamline their ultimately successful challenges for the championship.
Tomorrow's Bank of Ireland Connacht first round doesn't seem to hold out any greater prospects of such enlightenment than the counties' meeting 12 months ago. On paper Galway are a considerably superior force, notwithstanding their bloodless defeat in March's league fixture, played in the immediate wake of NUIG's Sigerson Cup victory.
Furthermore, injury has handicapped the visitors, with question marks dangling over defender John Whyte and consistent scorer Nigel Dineen, whose corner positions are accordingly left vacant.
Two years ago Roscommon's contribution to Galway's season was to point out that their defence wouldn't do. Yet tomorrow's backs show only two changes in personnel from the unit so graphically undermined back then. Given Michael Comer's credentials, his selection at corner back doesn't represent much of a risk, but there will be interest in how Kieran Fitzgerald gets on at centre back after Tomás Mannion's retirement.
It's no secret that Galway have been looking at Michael Donnellan in the position recently and although he starts on the bench after his return from injury, he'll presumably get a trot at some stage and eyes will be on where exactly he slots in.
If the position is a pressure point for Galway the same could be said of Roscommon. Francie Grehan made his name at centre back two years ago, winning an All Star in the process, but he has since struggled to recapture that sort of form. Matthew Clancy has the intelligence and composure not to be intimidated and his pace will sternly test Grehan.
Another area where Roscommon need to pick up is centrefield. In his debut season Seamus O'Neill's arrival seemed to suggest a major talent. Injury has blunted that promise and Tom Carr will anxiously watch for signs that Stephen Lohan can complement O'Neill and justify his switch from attack by establishing a serviceable centrefield partnership.
In trying to prove as much they will be up against a formidable unit in Kevin Walsh and Joe Bergin. Walsh captains Galway in what may be his final year with the team, and as experienced an observer as Sunday Game analyst Martin Carney expects this to act as a motivation for the other players.
Aside from such intangibles, Walsh's form is a good guide to Galway's. His ball-winning and calm distribution have been central to both All-Ireland successes. Beside him, Joe Bergin has developed much as O'Mahony must have hoped he would and it's hard to absorb the fact that he's only 22 given that this is his fourth year at the top of the senior game.
The main reason Galway should win is that whereas Roscommon's forwards are capable of damage there has to be a question mark over how much quality ball they receive. The champions on the other hand have the balance and presumably the desire after last year's disappointingly feeble defence of the All-Ireland.
GALWAY: A Keane; M Comer, G Fahey, R Fahey; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, S de Paor; K Walsh, J Bergin; P Clancy, M Clancy, D O'Brien; D Savage, P Joyce, M Meehan.
ROSCOMMON: S Curran; J Nolan, D Casey, AN Other; M Beirne, F Grehan, P Noone; S O'Neill, S Lohan; R Cox, G Cox, J Dunning; AN Other, G Lohan, F Dolan.
