3 p.m.: FBD Final, New York vs. Galway

THE annual autumn joist for New York versus the FBD winners is upon us with Galway this year's home champions.

This contest has long been one in which New York has put forward its best displays. In the early 2000s a three-point loss to Mayo was followed by a heart wrenching loss to Galway in extra time, 4-15 to 3-13 in 2001. The final point in regulation time and the free that was given is still disputed defiantly in New York circles.

Of course the win over Sligo when captain fantastic Bingo Driscoll led them to victory, with P.J. Ward kicking points from all angles in 2004, stands alone as a historic day for New York their first since the Gael Linn win of 1982.

What of this year then?

We will look at Galway first. The panel that has been sent to press is as follows - Paul Doherty, Adrian Faherty, Damien Burke, Diarmuid Blake, Barry Cullinane, Fiachra Breathnach, Padraig Joyce, Cormac Bane, Joe Bergin, Eddie Hoare, Gary O'Donnell, Nicky Joyce, Michael Comer, Alan Burke, David Finnegan, Kieran Fitzgerald, Darren Mullahy, David Reilly, Mark Gottsche and Cathal Kenny.

In the group stages they defeated Sligo 1-13 to 0-9, Leitrim 0-7 to 0-4 and GMIT 1-18 to 0-7. In the final Galway were victorious 4-9 to 2-10 over a star studded NUIG squad.

One player who started in the final but who is absent due to his involvement with Ireland on their Australian tour is Michael Meehan, with Finian Hanley also on international duty.

Still plenty of fire power, however, with P.J., as Joyce is known leading the team as captain in the championship, while Damien Burke was the captain when the Paddy Francis Dwyer Cup was presented at Pearse Stadium back in February.

Doherty and Faherty will probably play a half each in goal. Doherty from Tuam was the championship custodian with Faherty the third in the line of Claregalway keepers to play at the Mecca after Brian Donaghue and the other bloke.

A defense with Kieran Fitzgerald and Blake in the center -Comer, Burke, and Mullahy should have starting defensive slots - will be unforgiving.

Midfield will have the 6'7" Barry Cullinane, the only Galway man to win two under-21 All Irelands in the same year in 2005, and either Gary O'Donnell from Gort or Bergin if he is fully recovered from injury that hampered him all year. Would be interesting to see Adrian O'Connor and Cullinane going to battle, and if Bergin and Mike Higgins face off it will be all Mountbellew side by side.

Up front P.J. should have the 40, Nicky at full forward, with Cormac Bane from Caherlistrane, Cathal Kenny and Mark Gottsche filling in around the perimeter. They will have serious scoring prowess at their disposal.

Where does that leave New York, and how will they fare? After the shakeup at the managerial position Seamus Smith is now in, with Connie Molloy and Seamus Sweeney as his selectors. John Madden is training the squad.

The players who are training certainly deserve first shot at the starting slots. The rule of thumb in New York for far too long has been the allowance of players to walk in at the 13th hour and pull on a jersey.

After a loss to Boston in recent times, five players were called into the Connaught Championship squad two weeks before the game, and if memory serves me correctly four of them started. Completely out of order and an insult to the players that have been training.

Hopefully the players that have been training this past two weeks will get their shot against Galway and give 110%. One can't ask for more.

Four Provinces will have a large impact on the New York squad, with keeper Michael Grimes, Mike Higgins (facing off against the county he played minor for, he is one of the Americans in the New York side), Liam O'Donnell, Paul Walsh and Barry Quinn all in line for starting slots.

Eoghan O'Mahoney and Shane Clifford (Kerry), Sean Lordon and Dennis McCarthy (Cork), Mark Duggan, C.J. Molloy (Donegal) and Justin O'Halloran (Cavan) are also available.

Denis Kilkenny, James Huvane and Shane Carty give the side a distinct Irish American look with Molloy, and they all should get time next Sunday.

It will not be easy, but climbing a mountain never is. Suffice to say that if the players on the field have pride in their jersey and give all, with a team concept in place, then that will be the greatest victory and a stepping stone for next year.