While romantics might swoon, purists are more likely to puke, with such a fixture unlikely to change the perception of Connacht football as the sweet but plain sister . . . tries to be nice an' all, but you still wouldn't. Once they get out of their own backyard of course, Galway have been known to scrub up pretty well and allegedly announced their championship credentials with an emphatic win over Mayo.

That was an odd game though, with a startled Mayo allowing themselves to be bullied into submission and yet spurning numerous chances to stay in the game. Galway will struggle to find anything like that intensity today in Carrick-on-Shannon. Leitrim have recently mastered the dark art of the onepoint defeat, being inched out by Mayo at the same venue last year and then repeating the trick in the qualifiers. There was also an exciting extra-time loss to Meath two years ago. If the defence, which has John McKeon (right) back from injury, can prevent an early deficit and a deluge of goals, then Leitrim have the potential to make life difficult and stay within five points.

BACK AMELIE MAURESMO TO MAKE THE WIMBLEDON LADIES' SINGLES FINAL 3-1 Odds quoted are from Betfair As mentioned in this month's Mad About Sport magazine, Justine Henin is a solid and eminently backable favourite for this year's Wimbledon title. On the other side of the ladies' draw, defending champion Amelie Mauresmo has the best grass court game on paper. She should be able to overcome potential opponents and clay specialists Nicole Vaidisova and Ana Ivanovic before a possible semi-final encounter with Maria Sharapova. A shoulder injury has seen the Russian's serve weaken in recent weeks and her onedimensional power game has tended to suffer against more wily opponents, as was the case against Mauresmo in last year's semi. Expect Mauresmo to volley her way to victory. In the men's tournament, last year's semi-finalist Marcos Baghdatis could repeat the trick having been handed an easy draw, while seeds worth opposing early on are James Blake, Juan Ignacio Chela and Fernando Gonzalez.

Elsewhere, in the women's draw, look out for Eleni Daniilidou and Daniela Hantuchova.

Where the money was. . .

BACK ENGLAND TO BEAT THE WEST INDIES IN THE FINAL TEST 24-1 Betfair Laying the draw in cricket matches has proved very profitable for Betfair punters in recent years but rarely do you effectively get odds of 20-1 on it not happening. After a day and a half of the final test between England and the West Indies was lost to rain, England drifted to 24-1 while the draw was just 1-20. But after a fivewicket haul by Monty Panesar (right), England won out.