Will it be a battle royal or shadow boxing as Connacht rivals meet in opener?

Not since 1998 and 1999 has there been this much fanfare about Connacht championship games, writes John Divilly

Over 34,000 people flocked to Castlebar for the first round clash in 1998 while a year later over 34,000 supporters braved the stormy elements of Tuam Stadium to see Mayo wrestle the Connacht title off Galway. Of course, 34,000 hadn’t pre-purchased tickets in either of these fixtures. The good old-fashioned USA biscuit tins were the preferable mode of business back then. Tap and go had a different meaning too.

Everyone is expecting a classic in Castlebar tomorrow. Everyone wants to see a physical bruiser of a game, following the antics of the national league game played in Pearse Stadium a few weeks ago. “The Battle, Mayo v Galway, Part II”.