Defending champions Ballintubber got the defence of their Mayo SFC title off to the perfect start with a comfortable victory over Breaffy in Clogher yesterday.

AN outstanding display from Mayo sharpshooter Cillian O’Connor helped ease defending champions Ballintubber through to the Mayo SFC semi-finals yesterday.

MAYO’S Alan Dillon recovered from a freak accident during the warm-up before Ballintubber’s SFC clash yesterday to come off the bench and guide the defending champions to a hard-fought victory.

Mayo manager James Horan has dismissed reports that suggested that former captain Trevor Mortimer was out of the running for a place in his Championship squad.

THE Mayo senior football team will be captained by former All Star Alan Dillon for this season’s championship campaign.

AN early goal and a strong finish proved decisive for Armagh as they capped their first ever visit to McHale Park, Castlebar with a crucial victory after a frantic Allianz National League tussle.

Mayo 1-10 Armagh 2-10

JACK O’CONNOR suggested the decisive penalty might have been poetic justice for misdemeanours against Kerry in Tralee last Sunday week.

EOIN BROSNAN will line out for Kerry for the first time since the 2009 Munster semi-final replay defeat to Cork, when the Kingdom travel to face Mayo in Sunday’s Allianz Division 1 Football League clash in Castlebar.

Mayo motored into the Connacht FBD League final courtesy of a 1-11 to 0-2 hammering of Leitrim at Ballinamore, while Roscommon beat GMIT in the competition’s other game today.

JOE CANNING has emerged a doubt for Galway’s Leinster semi-final replay against Offaly next Saturday after suffering a hand injury in the drawn match.

In selecting his team to face Sligo in Saturday's Connacht SFC first round clash, Mayo manager John O'Mahony has made five changes to the side that disappointed against Cork in the NFL Division 1 final.

MAYO boss John O’Mahony has dropped full-forward Aidan O’Shea as he hands out four championship debuts and makes five changes in personnel from the NFL Division 1 final loss to Cork, for Saturday’s Connacht SFC quarter-final against Sligo in Markievicz Park.

WICKLOW GAA chiefs have given up in their bid to switch the venue of their Leinster SFC quarter-final against Westmeath on June 6 to either Carlow or Portlaoise and revealed they will accept the Leinster Council decision to keep the match in Tullamore.

Mayo 1-12 Donegal 1-10

Mayo have been hit by a double injury blow a day before their National Football League Division 1 Final against Cork at Croke Park tomorrow.

Mayo manager John O'Mahony has kept faith with the same team that started the win over Cork two weeks ago, confident that they can do the business against the same opposition in Sunday's Allianz NFL Division 1 final at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm).

KERRY GAA chiefs have described Colm Cooper’s eye surgery as ‘successful’ and expect the All-Ireland winner to return to training in the near future.

A DECISION on whether the winners of Sunday week’s dead-rubber NHL Division One tie between Galway and Cork will be awarded home advantage for the league decider between the counties on May 1 is unlikely to be made until next week.

MAYO defender Keith Higgins will have a scan on his knee this morning after suffering an injury in Sunday’s Allianz NFL Division One clash against Monaghan in Castlebar.

MAYO boss John O’Mahony is hoping Ronan McGarrity will recover from a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday’s NFL Division 1 clash against Monaghan.

Charlestown 0-9 Knockmore 0-6

GAA President Christy Cooney has been singing the praises of the All-Ireland qualifiers this past few weeks and, whatever your opinion on it, here again was evidence of the back door’s deep, redemptive waters.

Meath 2-15 Mayo 1-15

Mayo injury doubt Barry Moran will be given every chance to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final clash with Meath at Croke Park (throw-in 2pm).

MEATH GAA chiefs have confirmed that they will appeal Stephen Bray’s sending-off in last Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier win over Limerick that is threatening his participation in next Sunday’s quarter-final showdown against Mayo.

Galway 1-14 Mayo 2-12

DESPITE receiving a broken cheekbone in a club game 11 days ago,Ronan McGarrity has been named on the Mayo team for Sunday’s Connacht SFC final against Galway in Pearse Stadium.

Mayo 3-18 Roscommon 0-07

Denis Glennon bagged five points as the Tyrrellspass clubman made a return to action for Westmeath in a challenge match at St Loman's in Mullingar last night.

SECOND quarter goals from Patrick Harte and debutant Aidan O’Shea were the catalyst for victory as Mayo withstood a determined New York start to earn an impressive 15-point win in the opening game of the 2009 GAA Connacht Senior Football Championship.

Mayo 2-19 New York 0-10

Kerry 0-13 Mayo 0-11

Sligo IT 0-07 Mayo 2-20, Ballinode

CONNACHT SFC FINAL: GALWAY 2-12 MAYO 1-14

Mayo 3-11 Sligo 0-07

Former All-Star Ciaran McDonald has been omitted from the Mayo senior football panel for the forthcoming championship, which was released tonight.

Peadar Gardiner will sit out the remainder of Mayo's National Football League games after breaking his jaw in a club match.

Australian Football League scouts are continuing their active recruitment in Ireland with talent spotters present in Carlow at the weekend - keeping an eye on students playing in the Higher Education Football championships.

WITH this year’s Sigerson Cup being hosted for the first time by Carlow IT they will be desperately keen to be involved in the concluding stages over the weekend of March 7/8.

Derry have enhanced their giant-killing reputation with a battling win over Mayo at Celtic Park.

Mayo manager John O'Mahony has made one change in personnel to his side for Sunday's NFL Division One final.