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Following six defeats in eight testing games there is no disguising the importance of Galway United’s encounter with Drogheda United at Terryland Park tomorrow.

Galway United, Mervue, and Salthill Devon fans are being given a chance to travel to a FAI Ford Cup game in style. Ford will look after the transport to and from the game by supplying a Ford vehicle and chauffeur, and make sure every fan is fed and watered with a pre-match meal. There will be goody bags for every child, and one child on the trip will have the unique opportunity to deliver the match ball onto the pitch before kick-off. All fans have to do is email their name and address to [email protected] with the selected FAI Ford Cup fixture they wish to attend; whether they want to travel with their family to a home game or group of friends to an away game, and a reason why they should be brought to the game by Ford. At least two winners will be selected for every round in this year’s FAI Ford Cup

The question on everybody’s lips ahead of this weekend’s showdown is whether or not Tomas O’Flatharta’s men can rise to the challenge and lower the mighty Dubs. Croke Park is the venue, with a 4pm throw-in for the Leinster semi-final clash. At stake is a place in the Leinster final against the winner of Kildare and Laois, and a crack at winning a second-ever Leinster title.

Connacht’s John Muldoon is enjoying a busy schedule during the summer break.

Both Westmeath and Roscommon Gaelic footballers return to action this weekend in the All-Ireland qualifiers eager to forget their last 70 minutes of championship action. Roscommon and Westmeath are in very similar situations with both teams suffering heavy defeats in their respective provincial semi-finals and having just two weeks to regroup and try to focus on the qualifiers. On Saturday afternoon Roscommon head for the sunny south east to take on Wexford after their 20 point defeat to Mayo, while later that evening Westmeath entertain old rivals Meath in Cusack Park in a bid to get back on the road again after their 27 point defeat to Dublin. Westmeath started out their campaign this year against Meath in early January in the O’Byrne cup. The question is come Saturday evening will Meath be Westmeath’s first and last game of 2009? Both Westmeath players and management have taken some criticism over the last few weeks. There have been many excuses given for the poor performance against Dublin - poor league campaign, constant injury crisis, and the lack of match fitness and sharpness by a number of the 15 that took the field against Dublin.

I was delighted to hear on Saturday evening that Ronan McGarrity had participated in the A v B game in McHale Park, it was good news for all concerned and his inclusion in the Mayo team announced on Wednesday night gives the county and the player himself a great boost going into this weekend’s Connacht final. Normally before matches of this nature, I’m fairly confident in predicting in advance who will win, but this time I’m finding it difficult. Mayo’s performances in the championship to date have been hugely impressive albeit against weak opposition. And on the other hand Galway have been deteriorating since half time in the league game in Tuam, when Mayo came back in the second half in impressive style to win the game. Since half time in that game, every time Galway have togged out they have had question marks hanging over them. In Sligo they were very lucky and had to use six different combinations at midfield to see off the Yeats county men who, if they had a bit more conviction when goal chances were presented, could have sent Liam Sammon’s side into the qualifiers at that stage.

Mervue United enter new territory tomorrow night when they host premier division outfit Dundalk at Terryland Park (7.45pm).