By Eanna O’Reilly

GALWAY vice-captain Cillian McDaid is anticipating a huge challenge in Castlebar on Sunday as the Tribesmen face off against the old enemy Mayo, hoping to secure the Nestor Cup for the 51st time.

‘‘Yeah, it’s a big week ahead’’ he said. ‘‘We were happy to get over Roscommon the last day and we’re back to work now this week and fully focussed on MacHale Park.’’

The Monivea-Abbey player felt that the team performed well in the semi-final win over Roscommon and generated some positive momentum going into another Connacht Final test.

‘‘We were happy with our performance [in the semi-final]; Roscommon were in the division two league final, and they’ll be a division one team next year. So, to beat them at home was excellent.

‘‘I thought we played well, and it was probably one of our best performances so far this year. But you have to move on quickly, and we have another big challenge coming down the road.’’

As ever, Mayo are expected to provide stiff opposition to the Tribesmen in their bid for a fourth consecutive provincial title. McDaid is well aware of the threat posed by Kevin McStay’s charges and believes that Galway’s comprehensive win in Castlebar in early February will have little relevance on Sunday.

‘‘It’s always a difficult game [against Mayo]. We were probably beaten this time last year [in the Connacht final] going into injury time two or three points down. It’s hard to say how we managed to come out of it, but we did.

‘‘Mayo were top of division one this year. They were in the division one final, and they’re a very good team. They have some of the best players in the country and they are a very hard team to beat at home. So, when it comes to championship football, you know you’re always going to have a very difficult game against them.

‘‘We’re certainly under no illusions about the fact that things have changed a lot since the early rounds of the league. Teams have gradually adapted to the new rules since then, so look, we know it’ll be a difficult game on Sunday.’’

Four months on from the introduction of Gaelic footballs new rules, McDaid feels that Galway have adapted well and that the rule changes have made the game more enjoyable to play, as well as watch.

‘‘I think the rules are doing what they’re supposed to. They are opening the game up. We’re seeing better games of football across the board at every level, between underage and senior football.

Pictured: Galway’s Cillian McDaid getting the better of Roscommon’s Colm Neary during the Connacht Senior Football semi-final at Pearse Stadium.