"There's one date that's embedded in my mind, in everyone in Mayo's mind, and it's May the bloody 13th. D-Day!"
There was no beating around the bush from David Brady even way back in early February. The former Mayo midfielder was chatting to Joe after the tempestuous Allianz Football League game between his county and Galway but his eyes were very much fixed months into the future.
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And we're there now to the week in which Mayo and Galway will go head to head in their Connacht Championship opener on Sunday in a match that will set the tone for the remainder of both counties' summers.
Can Mayo get off to a winning start and make a run to another All Ireland final? Or will Galway triumph and take a big step towards retaining their Connacht crown before a concerted run at the All Ireland series?
Ray Silke ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
To look ahead to a pivotal match, former Galway All Ireland winner Ray Silke and former Mayo forward Billy Joe Padden joined Joe.
"On form, you have to be impressed with what Galway were able to do in the National League and it was a major step forward for them," said Padden.
"I think they added to the attacking quality that they had, to the skill level that many of their players have. They've added that bit of steel, fitness and aggression and tactical awareness and that is something that has helped them make those strides quickly so I think Galway are in a very good position."
And he added: "I think at this stage, they probably are ahead of Mayo."
Meanwhile, Silke added that despite the huge progress made, his "only fear for Galway" is the loss of a key player: "Unfortunately, for different reasons, Liam Silke has gone to America. I think he's a big loss who would possibly be their best man-marker along with Eoghan Kerin and Eamonn Brannigan looks like he's going to be out with ankle injuries and then on the Mayo side, I except Cillian O'Connor to be back. But if Galway have all their guns available, I'd agree with Billy Joe, I think they would be a little bit ahead of Mayo."
Padden also believes that it's advantageous for Mayo to beat Galway and avoid another arduous qualifier adventure given that the Super 8s await at the quarter final stage.
