By Cian O'Connell

Several interesting questions are about to be answered in the west.

Can Mayo build on a successful Allianz League campaign? 

James Horan's return as manager injected optimism into the green and red again so winning a national title at Croke Park added to the feel good factor.

Exciting young players also delivered in style for Mayo, who have endured some tough provincial losses in recent campaigns.

Galway caused all of those problems for Mayo, who have suffered summer setbacks against the maroon team in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Kevin Walsh had Galway primed for those battles, and while injuries disturbed Galway in the League the development of some young players augurs well.

How will Galway's newcomers fare in the Championship? 

The past three western showpieces have featured Galway and Roscommon, who are anxious to stay in the hunt for honours under Anthony Cunningham.

Roscommon were relegated from Division One of the Allianz Football, but they were spirited throughout.

Cunningham's Roscommon face Leitrim on May 12 with Terry Hyland's charges buoyed up by their Allianz Football League promotion.

Hyland steered Leitrim to five wins on the spin at the outset of the year to earn a Croke Park assignment against Derry.

Though that ended in defeat Leitrim contributed handsomely to a decent game and progress is being made. Can Leitrim take significant Championship scalps?

Neighbours Sligo endured a most disappointing Division Three so Paul Taylor will be demanding improvement.

How much can Sligo improve following a worrying spring? Sligo await the winners of Galway and London at Markievicz Park on May 19.

That Ruislip tussle this weekend will feature a raft of London born players in the home panel which confirms the work Ciaran Deely is carrying out.

Can London's homegrown players flourish on the Ruislip stage? 

Over in New York Justin O'Halloran continues to try to stitch together teams capable of delivering purposeful performances.

GALWAY

Manager: Kevin Walsh

Captain: Damien Comer

Fixture: v London, Sunday May 5, McGovern Park, Ruislip

League Form: Considering Galway were missing so many players due to injury and club commitments winning four games in Division One of the Allianz Football League was satisfactory.

Team news: It is hoped that captain Damien Comer will be available for selection in mid June. Paul Conroy, Declan Kyne, Peter Cooke, Ciaran Duggan, and Cillian McDaid are others currently sidelined for Galway.

Player to watch: Tom Flynn enjoyed a hugely productive 2018 for Galway and can continue to perform at a high level for the Tribesmen.

Prospects: Two Connacht titles in three years and a much coveted appearance at the All Ireland semi-final stage for the first time since 2001 represents progress. Galway, though, are keen to make the next step under Kevin Walsh, but the competition is strong out west. Returning to the All Ireland Quarter-Final Group Phase must be Galway's initial objective. The League was encouraging with several emerging footballers delivering. Now the challenge for them is to produce in the summer.

ROSCOMMON

Manager: Anthony Cunningham

Captain: Enda Smith

Fixture: v Leitrim, Sunday May 12, Dr Hyde Park

League Form: Despite some gutsy displays Roscommon were relegated from Division One of the Allianz Football League.

Team news: Ciarain Murtagh and Niall McInerney's unavailability is a blow for Roscommon, who were boosted by the return to fitness of the accomplished Diarmuid Murtagh at the end of the League.

Player to watch: Injuries have disturbed Ultan Harney's progress, but glimpses of his talent and physical power were evident during the League.

Prospects: Roscommon have reached three Connacht finals in a row, but all those campaigns subsequently ended in disappointment at the All Ireland Quarter-Final stage. Roscommon are keen to be more stable defensively and did compete well in the League even if relegation was a blow. There is talent in Roscommon, but the unavailability of some important players is a setback. Anthony Cunningham, though, will be planning and plotting to make an impact in the west and beyond.

MAYO

Manager: James Horan

Captain: Diarmuid O'Connor

Fixture: v New York, Sunday May 5, Gaelic Park

League Form: An Allianz Football League title was gleaned so it was a most encouraging spring for Mayo.

Team news: Captain Diarmuid O'Connor is an injury doubt for Sunday's game against New York, while the effective Tom Parsons isn't due to return to action until next month at least. Cillian O'Connor missed the Allianz Football League, but did feature for Ballintubber in the Mayo SFC last month.

Player to watch: Several promising players contributed during the spring, but Matthew Ruane's development was striking. Ruane's ability to drive forward ensured he was relevant when it mattered most in the closing games of the League campaign.

Prospects: James Horan's presence and the introduction of new talent ensures Mayo enter the summer heartened. Galway and Roscommon have contested the last three Connacht finals so Mayo will be anxious to rectify that in 2019. There is significant experience in the Mayo ranks and the depth of the panel appears to be improving. The loss to Kildare in Newbridge hurt deeply so Mayo will be striving to be gunning for the ultimate honour once more.

LEITRIM

Manager: Terry Hyland

Captain: Micheal McWeeney

Fixture: v Roscommon, Sunday May 12, Dr Hyde Park

League Form: Five straight wins earned promotion from Division Four of the Allianz Football League. Leitrim were competitive in the Croke Park decider against Derry, but lost.

Team news: The turnover of players has been a lingering issue for Leitrim, but Terry Hyland has managed to get most of the best talent available on board.

Player to watch: Ray Mulvey impressed during the League and was always ready, willing, and able to venture forward from deep to try to land scores.

Prospects: Roscommon have proven far too strong for Leitrim in their most recent Championship meetings. The fact, though, that promotion was secured should inject some confidence and belief into Leitrim. Surviving a most tricky encounter at Gaelic Park last year against New York was important for Leitrim's development. Beating Louth in the qualifiers mattered deeply too and Leitrim started the spring well which was vital. Progress has been made, but now Leitrim want to start taking summer scalps.

SLIGO

Manager: Paul Taylor

Captain: Niall Murphy

Fixture: v Galway/London, Sunday May 19, Markievicz Park

League Form: It was a wretched League campaign for Sligo, who were relegated to Division Four of the Allianz Football League.

Team news: Losing the experienced Charlie Harrison was a massive blow to a youthful Sligo set-up, while injury ensures the excellent Kevin McDonnell and Ross Donovan are unavailable. Paul Taylor, though, is fully aware of the promising young talent that has impressed in underage and post primary competitions out west during the past decade or so.

Player to watch: Captain Niall Murphy is an accomplished footballer capable of kicking sweet scores.

Prospects: Retirements, injuries, and emigration have hit Sligo hard which is a pity. The manner of the relegation to Division Four was tough so Sligo will need to summon much improved performances to avoid further damaging losses.

LONDON

Manager: Ciaran Deely

Captain: Liam Gavaghan

Fixture: v Galway, Sunday May 5, McGovern Park, Ruislip

League Form: London won one of their seven games, but were extremely competitive in the majority of matches.

Team news: Cavan native Lorcan Mulvey has returned to the London panel to add experience alongside several young homegrown players, who continue to accumulate experience.

Player to watch: Killian Butler is a potent forward in the London club scene and has shown enough to suggest he can continue to impress in the inter-county game.

Prospects: Any time London face Division One opposition it is likely to be tough, but Ciaran Deely's work is helping to build for the future. Becoming a competitive and sustainable team is what the former Wexford footballer wants to achieve. Galway represents a demanding test, but Deely will be hopeful that his hard working and committed team can perform in front of a healthy Ruislip crowd.

NEW YORK

Manager: Justin O'Halloran

Captain: Niall Madine

Fixtures: v Mayo, Sunday May 5, Gaelic Park

League Form: N/A

Team news: New York aren't as strong as in previous campaigns, particularly in 2018 when the panel was sprinkled with talented players.

Player to watch: Cathal Compton has plenty of inter-county experience with Roscommon and will be a key player for New York.

Prospects: Mayo enjoyed a successful League campaign so it will be extremely difficult for New York against the green and red. Last year New York came within a whisker of beating Leitrim, who finished strongly to avoid defeat. With Justin O'Halloran involved there won't be much wrong with New York's attitude or application.