Galway 2-14 Roscommon 0-15: Goals in either half from Cillian McDaid and Danny Cummins enabled Galway retain their FBD Connacht League title against Roscommon at Kiltoom.

Stephen Rochford’s reign as Mayo manager got off to a winning start when they were pushed all the way by NUIG before emerging 1-12 to 1-10 winners.

FBD Connacht League (R3)

Mayo 2-8 T Sligo 1-11

Armagh 8-13 Leitrim 0-10

Everyone else laughs while he smiles politely.

Living in a house with parents that were born and bred in Co Leitrim means that Mayo midfielder, Barry Moran, is more aware than most of what’s at stake in Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final in Castlebar.

CONNACHT GAA officials have drawn up two sets of fixtures for the FBD League in January as efforts continue to include London in the provincial competition.

LONDON’S plan to enter a side in next year’s FBD League suffered a major setback this week when club delegates refused to endorse the proposal.

CONNACHT Council secretary John Prenty has dismissed the future of the interprovincial competitions by suggesting their absence from last year’s fixtures calendar barely registered with the public.

HE retired in 2004, but Kevin Walsh will be remembered as a giant among midfielders, a player with a commanding presence who made a major contribution to Galway’s last two All-Ireland successes in 1998 and 2001. Now, he has taken the bold step of going into inter-county management with Sligo, after a short stint with his club and a brief involvement with the Galway ladies team.

Some of Mayo's less-known footballers will have a chance to impress manager John O'Mahony when the county's FBD Connacht League campaign begins against NUI Galway on Sunday.

THE establishment of a ‘centre of excellence’ in Connacht which would incorporate the needs of counties, clubs and schools, is a major priority, according to Council Secretary John Prunty.

John O'Mahony has made his first team announcement since his appointment as Mayo manager.

IF Eamon Fitzmaurice had a crystal ball he might not necessarily like what the summer season holds in store for him.

MAYO star Conor Mortimer admits he does not know whether Ciarán McDonald will be returning to the senior football panel in 2006.

THE referee’s report on the O’Byrne Cup game between Dublin and Wexford has made a “vague reference” to an alleged striking incident by a Dublin official.

Sligo corner-back Patrick Naughton is to undergo surgery on a cruciate knee injury, meaning him will miss up to six months of the new season.

Mayo are likely to use upwards of 60 players during the course of the forthcoming FBD League, according to selector Kieran Gallagher.

Mickey Moran has moved quickly to dispel the thoughts that his Mayo side have been handed an “easy” Connacht SFC draw for 2006.

AS winter turned to spring, Dessie Sloyan could hear the familiar whispers in the wind. They have been a constant of late in the Yeats County. Barstool murmurs abound about this being Sligo's last chance.

THE era of the dual players in the GAA is coming to an end, according to Galway senior hurling manager Conor Hayes.

WHO is behind the recent spate of visa refusals for hurlers travelling to New York for weekend games? That’s a question that’s been exercising the minds of many GAA people in New York in recent weeks, particularly those who have been adversely affected.