SPOT the difference. Both achieved the league and championship double in their respective counties last year. Both are attempting to claim a second All-Ireland title — and first since the 1990s. No wonder this one is so hard to call.

Galway's senior footballers are set for a huge cash boost as they head into their opening National Football League tie against Laois this Sunday at Tuam Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Defender Diarmuid Blake has returned to the Galway team for Sunday's Connacht SFC semi-final clash with Leitrim (Carrick-on-Shannon, throw-in 2pm).

Cormac Bane and Nicky Joyce shot 1-5 between them as Galway won their second successive match in NFL Division 1B, holding off a late rally from Kildare at Pearse Stadium.

Galway manager Peter Ford has performed extensive surgery on the side that lost the Connacht SFC final, making six changes for tomorrow's All-Ireland qualifier against Westmeath (Pearse Stadium, throw-in 7pm).

Joe Bergin has been slotted back into the Galway side for Sunday's Connacht SFC final against Mayo (Castlebar, throw-in 2pm).

Mayo 1-6 Galway 1-11

JOE KERNAN has made three changes in the Armagh line-out to face Meath in Sunday’s Allianz League clash in Navan.

It’s easy. Stop Colm Cooper and Kieran McDonald and you’re halfway to an All-Ireland. Michael Moynihan spoke to opponents who have tried and failed.

Galway 1-9 Mayo 0-18

THE expressions on the faces of the Armagh players as they dejectedly left their dressing room in Pearse Stadium on Sunday said it all.

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly last night applauded referees for their consistent application of the rules after a weekend of red card fever in the Allianz Football League.

ARMAGH manager Joe Kernan let rip after watching his All-Ireland football finalists struggle for the majority of yesterday’s second-round Allianz Football League defeat at Pearse Stadium.

Galway 0-16 Armagh 0-08

THE Meath County Board confirmed they will hold an election for the position of senior football manager.

FOLLOWING a meeting of the Munster Council GAC in Limerick last night, Cork succeeded in postponing tonight’s Munster U21 football championship semi-final against Waterford.

Galway boss John O'Mahony will delay the announcement of his team to face Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final replay on Sunday as he waits on a number of injured players to prove their fitness.

ALLSTAR Michael Donnellan and teenage sensation Michael Meehan have been recalled to the Galway team for next Monday’s Bank of Ireland, All-Ireland SFC quarter-final showdown with Donegal at Croke Park.

THE chairman of Croke Park’s GAC, Tony O’Keeffe, has pledged to act on a bizarre rules anomaly which again surfaced in last Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier between Roscommon and Kildare.

Galway football manager John O'Mahony is sweating over the fitness of a number of key players ahead of Monday's All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Donegal at Croke Park.

Galway 0-12 Roscommon 0-8

SO, who is next for the chop? Two of the provincial football champions fell at the first hurdle last weekend and now it is Galway’s turn to defend their Connacht title tomorrow.

Galway star Michael Meehan will make his senior championship debut in the Connacht SFC against Roscommon on Sunday.

Dublin 0-12 Galway1-9

FOLLOWING the defeat to Roscommon, the Cork selectors have made sweeping changes for Saturday’s crunch Allianz NFL clash with Galway under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn.

ATHLONE IT are worried about the fitness of Trevor Mortimer for today’s home Datapac Sigerson Cup clash with University of Jordanstown.

Galway 1-13

Corofin 3-11 Annaghdown 2-2

Galway 0-15 Dublin 0-7

KILLERERIN will know tonight if they will be readmitted to the Galway senior football championship.

JOHN O’MAHONY hopes to salvage something from a season that has gone horribly wrong when he takes Galway’s U-21 footballers to Castlebar tonight to play Mayo in the Connacht final.