12 players with Senior inter-county experience are included in the New York starting line-up to face Allianz League champions Mayo in the Connacht SFC at Gaelic Park on Sunday.

A lack of support from the Mayo executive from the All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Kildare to recent days compelled Stephen Rochford to step down as senior football manager yesterday.

Former Mayo forward John Casey is praying his county beat Galway on Sunday — but isn’t sure a third straight Connacht SFC defeat to their neighbours would effectively mean the end of their championship.

The Leitrim footballers will always fear losing to New York, selector Seamus Quinn has admitted.

A one-point defeat by Roscommon brought a mix of pride and bitter disappointment to New York’s Gaelic football family last year, and it has whetted appetites for Sligo’s visit to Gaelic Park in Sunday’s Connacht SFC preliminary round tie.

God love Jarlath Burns for trying but in the wake of Louth manager Colin Kelly’s impassioned criticism of the six-day turnaround his team suffered on Saturday Burns’ attempt to justify it was never going to work.

James Horan believes his managerial career with Mayo “would have been over” had the team lost to London in 2011.

Galway manager Kevin Walsh believes Mayo are the only team that will challenge Dublin this year and Stephen Rochford’s side have their eyes on All-Ireland honours.

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan has failed to overcome a groin injury and will sit out their Ulster football championship preliminary round clash away to Donegal on Sunday.

Today in Croke Park, Central Council will be presented with proposals from a sub-committee charged with devising a plan to introduce a calendar GAA season from 2016, writes John Fogarty.

Corofin (Galway) 7-20 Aughawillan (Leitrim) 0-6

Connacht Council secretary John Prenty predicts Sunday’s football decider between Galway and Mayo will contribute over €500,000 to the provincial coffers.

Whoever wins today’s Connacht semi-final will be on the road for the final.

London 0-7 Galway 3-17

Lar Corbett has handed Tipperary a massive pre-championship boost by returning to action with the Premier County.

New York 0-08 Mayo 4-18

Leitrim secretary Diarmuid Sweeney has revealed the county could not afford to fulfil last month’s FBD ‘away’ final fixture against New York.

Castlebar Mitchels’ 1-11 Breaffy 0-08

Currow 2-11 St Mary’s 0-14

Galway vice-captain Gareth Bradshaw admitted he is “not enjoying football” as he prepares for a summer away from the county squad in America.

GAA president Liam O’Neill has defended the rule which prevented London from playing two challenge matches in Ireland recently, saying that the county’s success against Sligo in the Connacht SFC shows that they do not need special treatment anymore.

Former Armagh footballer Oisin McConville says Eamonn O'Hara had been out of line with his comments on last night's Sunday Game.

Former All-Ireland double winner Seán Ó Domhnaill has called for a root and branch review of Galway football following Sunday’s Connacht SFC hammering by Mayo.

It’s tough being a TV commentator when your former team is involved, the thin line you must tread.

Mayo’s Andy Moran has given manager James Horan a boost by stating he could feature ahead of their Connacht SFC quarter-final clash with Galway.

Leitrim joint-manager Barney Breen has admitted that Sunday’s demolition of New York in the first round of the Connacht SFC is no indication of his team’s chances this year.

In a game devoid of the negativity and cynicism often too prevalent in the senior ranks, these two counties produced a tremendous evening of football skills in difficult weather conditions.

“Support for the team fell away at an alarming rate: hardly anyone turned up for some of the championship preparation games. In fact, the situation had got so bad that no one cared when or where the panel was holding their training sessions. Every other week, there was news of players being dropped from the panel or leaving through lack of interest. Injuries too were preventing any real progress being affected and, in the circumstances, the trip to Carrick-on-Shannon on June 23 to play Leitrim in the semi-final was one of hope rather than confidence.”

A turbulent week for Mayo football finished on a positive note yesterday as they won back-to-back Connacht SFC titles by beating Sligo 0-12 to 0-10.

Stevie McDonnell last night announced his retirement from inter-county football.

GALWAY champions Corofin are appealing the suspension of two of their members and the €5,100 fine dished out following the controversial Connacht SFC Club final defeat by St Brigid’s of Roscommon.

FOR the first time since 2007, Cork and Tipperary have not been drawn against one another in the Munster SH championship.

NEW YORK might have to earn the right to face an Irish team in the Connacht SFC if the North American County Board are successful in their quest to field a team in the All-Ireland SFC.

Declan Meehan has announced his retirement from senior inter-county football, bringing an end to his 14-year career with the Galway senior footballers.

NEXT year’s All-Ireland Championships are set to kick-off with a whimper rather than a bang when Connacht champions Roscommon travel to face New York in their provincial senior football opener on May 1 after GAA chiefs yesterday released their official fixture list for the 2011 season.

REIGNING All-Ireland champions Cork and Tipperary will both enjoy home advantage for their opening provincial ties next season after the Munster Council finalised their 2011 fixture arrangements last night.

Galway received a bye into the semi-finals when the draw for the 2011 Connacht Senior Football Championship was made tonight at Croke Park.

Joe Kernan is due to meet Galway County Board officials in the coming days to discuss his future as the county's senior football manager.

AND so, Connacht has settled its affairs for 2010. The team that started the year ranked fourth, at best, now sits on top of the pile.

Although his side endured a deflating finish to their Championship campaign at Croke Park yesterday afternoon, Mayo manger John O'Mahony is remaining upbeat about the county's footballing future.

Mayo GAA have a week to get McHale Park, Castlebar in good condition for their June 20 clash with Roscommon in the Connacht SFC, it has emerged.

Cushendall were crowned the first provincial club champions of 2008 thanks to a 1-14 to 1-13 victory over Down champions Ballygalget in the Ulster club SHC final at Casement Park, on a day which saw 13 county finals around the country, and also action in the Ulster and Connacht provincial club championships.