HONEYMOONS always come to an end – some more abruptly than others – but new Galway manager, Joe Kernan, will be hoping for a soft landing on Sunday in Castlebar (2.30) when his charges tangle with old rivals Mayo in the National League.

The trimmings of early season training sessions and the FBD league will all be cast aside in the newly revamped McHale Park, where the province’s most deep seated rivalry will ensure a full blooded encounter.

Galway start out on February’s first Sunday with thoughts of bridging a nine year gap since their last Sam Maguire – for Mayo the chasm is a massive 59 years – and yet both counties will nurture their own hopes of making the breakthrough.

In truth, over recent years, neither county has really hacked it in the white heat of championship action against serious opposition but both Joe Kernan and John O’Mahony, will be hoping from somewhere, to unwrap their own ‘X factor’ between now and the summer solstice.

Reputedly, Galway made a brisker start to their pre-season preparations than Mayo, but whether that will count for much on Sunday is debatable – when these two sides face up to each other, it’s as if the great levelling hand of fate always intervenes.

Mayo had planned for a special Saturday evening carnival opening to their revamped McHale Park but a TV and radio centre with ‘too high of a neck’ got them into a planning wrangle involving local residents and this won’t be sorted out until later in the Spring by the planning bods.

Still a decent crowd – expected to be in the region of 6,000 to 7,000 – should turn out for this opening league tie with a big contingent expected to travel from Galway. Hope springs even more eternally, when a ‘new man’ takes over.

Galway’s successful journey through the FBD series so far will be mildly encouraging in terms of some fringe players doing well, but with over half a team out through injury and colleges’ allegiance, Gaelic form in January should normally be filed away into the ‘noted’ category.

Definitely out for Galway is Padraic Joyce – recovering well after treatment for an ankle injury – but he won’t be back to competitive action for at least another month or so.

Michael Meehan, who scored the goal last Sunday against GMIT, was taken off after 20 minutes as a precautionary move due to a hamstring worry – he has done well since, and will be a definite starter against Mayo.

Giant midfielder Barry Cullinane has also a worry with a long standing knee problem, while also ruled out through injuries are Matthew Clancy and Fiachra Breathnach.

For more, read page 56 of this week's Connacht Tribune.