Galway’s top speed can buck trend against Sligo

In the 104-year history of fixtures between these two counties, Sligo are in a veritable streak. They've beaten Galway the last two times they've met in the championship and in fact have only lost once in five matches going back to 2007. Only four of Galway's named 15 have ever beaten Sligo in championship and one of those – James Kavanagh – did so for Kildare.

But all in all, not your usual scenario here. Galway head to Sligo tonight with no recent history of success and with a string of injury worries to accompany them.

The return of Finian Hanley wasn't a certainty earlier this week but they've decided to start him, with Sligo's inclusion of Adrian Marren and David Kelly very possibly a factor in their thinking.

They are certainly vulnerable here. Sligo didn't show a whole lot during the league but, after the disaster of last year, this season was always going to be a slow reveal under Pat Flanagan. Kelly's return after a two-year lay-off is a huge plus and if the corner forward has managed to retain his zip, he and Marren can be relied upon to be clinical in front of goal. They will play as a two-man full-forward line with Galway likely to drop a sweeper in front of them.

Speediest teams

Galway have the edge at midfield and with

Garreth Bradshaw

cantering forward at every opportunity from wing back, they won’t lack for urgency. They are one of the speediest teams around and they try to play on that by constantly taking quick frees.

Everything is aimed at getting their gaggle of very fast, very buzzy forwards in position to take on their men and shoot.

Ultimately this will come down to whether they do that often enough. Here’s a vote that says they will.

The verdict: Galway by four