That's the problem and dilemma with Mayo though. The last big result is only putting off the next defeat, which among a public as excitable as Mayo's, amounts to a catastrophe.

Just as Mayo seem to have had something of an Indian sign over Tyrone in recent years, Galway appear to have one over Mayo now.

And today it's likely to persist. When it does it will be seen as a crushing blow to Mayo, that they were all-out for the league but that Peter Ford has them completely sussed. Mayo aren't all-out for the league but Galway should win simply because they have better set of forwards. By the summer Mayo will have an attack to rival it. When these counties met in the 2001 league final, only two of Galway's starting forwards started . ve months later in the All Ireland . nal. The Mayo attack will similarly evolve. As uplifting as it has been to see both Austin O'Malley and Kevin O'Neill reward Mickey Moran's trust in them, and ridicule John Maughan's distrust in them, at least one of them will have to settle for the role of summer super sub; Ciaran McDonald and the Mortimers will hardly all subscribe to that role. Galway it is so. Call it revenge for '01 if you like.

Verdict Galway GALWAY A Keane; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, D Burke; A Burke, D Blake, M Comer; P Clancy, N Coleman; M Clancy, D Savage, M Donnellan; M Meehan, P Joyce, S Armstrong.

MAYO J Healy; T Howley, D Heaney, L O'Malley; K Higgins, J Nallen, P Gardiner; J Gill, R McGarrity; BJ Padden, G Brady, A Dillon; A Moran, A O'Malley, K O'Neill.

KERRY v LAOIS Killarney, 3.45 Referee J McQuillan (Cavan) Live, TG4, 1.45 It's no wonder the venue toss went against Laois. Seems to be a trend where Division 1B loses out when it comes to coverage, hype and just about everything else. But that will have suited Laois. They've sneaked their way through qualifying and have made it here with just one worry that was thrown up the last day out against Kildare. Size.

The Leinster side have huge potential up front when given space.

Ross Munnelly and Colm Parkinson can create havoc when they worry about football while Tom Kelly has added an extra dimension to an already impressive midfield comprising of Pauric Clancy and Noel Garvan. But can the defence handle the Gooch' Kerry's performances to date suggest that even if Laois can quell, not to mention extinguish, the cornerforward, they have a huge chance.

Jack O'Connor's side have been indifferent at times. Their selection is a little strange and the bench hardly inspires con. dence. Declan O'Sullivan still tends to wander from full forward while this is third consecutive semi-final of a national competition that Mike Frank's been dropped for.

All the talk this morning will be about Micko's return. This evening the silence about Laois's summer ambitions might finally be broken thanks to the odd point in quite a few.

Verdict Laois KERRY D Murphy; A O'Mahony, M �? Sé, T O'Sullivan; T �? Sé, S Moynihan, M Lyons; D �? Sé, K Donaghy; P Galvin, E Fitzmaurice, B Sheehan; C Cooper, D O'Sullivan, R O'Connor.

LAOIS (probable): F Byron; D Brennan, D Rooney, P McDonald; J Higgins, D Conroy, B McCormack; P Clancy, T Kelly; R Munnelly, B Sheehan, G Kavanagh; P Lawlor, C Parkinson, K Kelly.

DIVISION 2 SEMI-FINALS DONEGAL vWESTMEATH Kingspan Breffni Park, 3.30 Referee TBC It's hard to know how well these teams are going; today will be as good a gauge as any. The suspicion is Donegal will just shade it.

Verdict Donegal WESTMEATH G Connaughton; C Davey, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, G Glennon; D Duffy, D O'Shaughnessy; J Nugent, G Dolan, A Mangan; PJ Ward, D Glennon, D Dolan.

DONEGAL (probable): M Boyle; F McGlynn, P Campbell, K Lacey; D Diver, E McGee, K Cassidy; B Boyle, N Gallagher; C Toye, M Hegarty, C Dunne; B Roper, A Sweeney, M Doherty.

LIMERICK v LOUTH Newbridge, 3.00 Referee M Hughes (Tyrone) Though six of the Louth team already have Division Two league medals, they haven't had many big days since that 2000 win over Offaly.

Limerick are coming along nicely with the return of Muiris Gavin and Eoin Keating. Louth have some of their bigger names back after resting them against Westmeath. Still, Limerick by two.

Verdict Limerick LIMERICK S Kiely; S Gallagher, J McCarthy, P Browne, A Lane, S Lavin, C Mullane; J Stokes, J Galvin; P Ahern, T Carroll, S Buckley, M Crowley, M Gavin, E Keating.

LOUTH S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr; J O'Brien, P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly, P Keenan; C Grimes, M Brennan, M Stan. eld; JP Rooney, A Hoey, D Clarke.