If I’m honest, I haven’t missed inter-county football as much as I thought I would. This week has been different, however.
Mayo-Galway is the rivalry that I grew up on, with my club, Davitt’s, being perched just on the right side of the border that the counties share.
Throw in the fact that my mother hails from Cortoon, a football-mad village just outside Tuam, and there was an added edge to the rivalry given the banter with cousins when growing up.
My first experience of the fixture at close quarters was in Castlebar in 1998. Two Ciarán McDonald goals weren’t enough to set Mayo on their way to a third successive All-Ireland final as Galway, led by John O’Mahony, got there instead and won it.
A year later, I was there with my mother, Teresa, and our great neighbour and friend, Martin McHugh, when Mayo dumped them out in Tuam. David Nestor’s first half goal set Mayo on their way and McDonald and James Nallen sealed it with late points.
Leaving Tuam Stadium that day, I was hooked. I was only 12 but there was no turning back - playing for Mayo was something I had to do.
Funnily enough, my mother was still a Galway supporter back then. She’s one of Mayo’s biggest now.
That’s largely a reflection of the journey that I went on with the team, though it was a slow burner. My first experience of playing in a Mayo-Galway game at senior level was a harrowing one.
I was outmuscled and outclassed by Cormac Bane and hauled ashore after 29 minutes or, as one manager used to describe it, “rescued”. It was another five years before I got a shot at them again but I was a different player by that stage and performed well in a famous 17-point victory.
Last year’s Connacht final, in the unusual setting of a sun-drenched Croke Park, was my last opportunity to grace the fixture but, unfortunately, it didn’t come to pass as I wasn’t summoned from the bench. But I probably enjoyed the victory more than any of the others as I knew it was going to be my last.
The qualifiers may have been restored this year but tomorrow’s game is huge for both teams.
Mayo’s preparation has been undermined by injuries. Robbie Hennelly will be a big loss if absent and so too will Jordan Flynn, who had been playing the football of his life.
I expect Galway to play to a more defensive template than they usually do under Padraic Joyce and try and exploit Mayo on the counterattack through Shane Walsh and Damien Comer. This approach should serve the Galway full-back line well, given that it’s likely to include Kieran Molloy and Liam Silke, both of whom are more recognised as half-backs.
The possible Matthew Ruane-Sean Kelly and Paul Conroy-Aidan O’Shea match-ups at midfield will be eye-catching to say the least.
It should go to the wire, with the Mayo faithful hoping that Cillian O’Connor can add the finishing touches to a first home win over Galway since 2014. Mayo to edge it.
Donegal can progress but need run some risks
Expect fireworks as these two meet four weeks after a League encounter ended with unsavoury scenes. The reversal of the Armagh suspensions in the meantime, while Donegal sucked it up, will only add to sourness between the two sets of players.
For me, Donegal are a frustrating team to watch. Their transition from defence to attack can often be slow and laboured, with few risks taken. But they are a team that with some adjustments to their game plan could pose a threat in the All-Ireland series.
The most obvious is moving Michael Murphy from the middle third to full-forward, where he poses much more of a threat. It may result in him having less possessions but those that he has will be more effective, leaving him doing what he does best - scoring and assisting goals and points.
I would imagine that Kieran McGeeney would be quite happy for Murphy to play around the middle third and detail an athletic player like Jarly Og Burns to try and put him on the backfoot.
Murphy’s goal against Dublin in the League, from a long diagonal Ryan McHugh pass, is an example of what Donegal can do if they move the ball quicker and take more risks. Will they learn from Tyrone who won the All-Ireland last year because they were far more direct than previous years?
Even with Armagh now having almost a full squad to pick from, with home advantage and the bigger scope for improvement from the League form I expect Donegal to come through.
But success in the All-Ireland series in particular depends on how much they are willing to change their approach.
Louth to keep run going and leave Kildare twitchy
Much focus will be on Louth in the Leinster Championship this weekend to see if they can bring their League form to the Championship.
There is no doubt they have improved immensely under Mickey Harte. With no Tailteann Cup for them now after winning Division Three, a good run in the Championship is important to maintain their momentum.
A win this weekend over a Carlow team who only had one victory in Division Four would set up the prospect of an interesting quarter-final against Kildare.
While Sam Mulroy got the headlines through the League, it was the form of Ciaran Byrne that was most eye-catching against Limerick.
If they do get over this weekend they will certainly give Glenn Ryan plenty of cause for concern.
Tyrone impressed - eventually
It took quite some time, but once Tyrone clicked into gear against Fermanagh they looked very impressive.
Darren McCurry was razor sharp and in Conn Kilpatrick and Brian Kennedy they have the best midfield partnership in the country right now.
Conor McKenna’s red card was the only blip on the night - how three Fermanagh players escaped the same punishment is hard to fathom.
