Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

It is more than 100 years since Mayo last beat Galway five times in succession in championship football.

Younger and hungrier, the GPA has been quick to spot opportunities where money streams can be created or increased

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final

It was like the late 1990s in Elvery’s MacHale Park yesterday. Almost a full house, with well over 26,000 in attendance, glorious weather and Mayo and Galway going at it full-tilt for the Nestor Cup.

Mayo 3-14 Galway 0-16

Galway 0-16 Sligo 0-11

Waist circumference is the most accurate obesity measure, Irish researchers have found.

Although the GAA have been at pains to say the Sky deal wasn’t about money but exposure, GPA founder Donal O’Neill’s comments earlier this week suggested because of it sponsorship revenue will soon soar.

Gaelic Players Association founder Donal O’Neill predicts the GAA’s entire commercial revenues will grow significantly as a result of bringing Sky Sports into their stable of media partners.

At this September’s Ryder Cup, the European and US players will emerge from a tunnel into the amphitheatre of the first tee. Before a ball is struck, it will make for great TV.

Don’t tell us that you didn’t see it coming. The Sky kites have been floating high for quite some time now, going back to Liam O’Neill’s first weekend in office in April 2012.

Mutual consent.

Marks & Spencer stores are likely to close today when workers stage the first of three planned stoppages in a row with company management over a defined benefits scheme.

Total passenger numbers at Aer Lingus fell 5% on an annualised basis in November, with the airline not anticipating any improvement on short-haul routes before the end of the year.

GPA founder Donal O’Neill says Dublin’s new multi-million sponsorship deal is a further step towards a form of professionalism in Gaelic games.

Ryanair says it is prepared to sell its stake in rival Aer Lingus in a bid to appease a British anti-competition probe, a move analysts said was an apparent gambit to avoid a forced selldown.

Galway 1-11 Armagh 0-09

Do managers and their players, learn more from defeat and tight games than easy victories?

The board of Aer Lingus has backed recommendations made by the Labour Court last week, aimed at resolving its pension deficit woes and avoiding industrial action.

Without breaking sweat Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary yesterday made €23m as shares in the airline took off.

The value of Ryanair increased by more than €600m in one day’s trading yesterday after the company reported stronger than expected results.

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL

One of the biggest weddings ever witnessed in Kerry saw a member of the famous Healy-Rae political dynasty tie the knot with his long-time sweetheart on Saturday.

A programme which has been proven to improve behaviour in children with serious conduct difficulties and hyperactivity could save the State €4,800 for each child who uses it and would add just 1% to the annual spend of a primary school.

Aer Lingus’s passenger figures for the year are up marginally but the number of passengers carried in July was down marginally on the same month last year.

The father of a 17-year-old student, stabbed to death in Killarney, Co Kerry, three years ago, yesterday told an inquest how he was informed of the tragedy as he approached the road in which his dead son lay.

Irish pharmaceutical and healthcare services group United Drug said they are looking to make acquisitions in the US, Britain, and Europe in the short term and hoping to expand into China and Brazil within five years.

A Kerry GAA club which failed in its bid to secure church lands to develop community and sporting facilities has made a further appeal to diocesan authorities and to the parish to reconsider a decision to sell to the highest bidder.

A controversial site which has divided a community has been sold to the highest bidder by the Diocese of Kerry, against the wishes of the local GAA club.

The Bishop of Kerry has indicated he will not be in a position to preside at all Confirmation ceremonies in the sprawling diocese this year due to a painful and debilitating back injury.

GPA FOUNDER Donal O’Neill has revealed his former employees International Management Group (IMG) recently approached him about leading a commercial assault on the GAA.

OUTSIDE Donal O’Neill’s office in Malta, the winter sun sparkles. His CBN online gaming company is booming. He’s out the doors busy. Life’s good. Again.

Three-time All-Ireland winner Enda McGinley will be back in a Tyrone jersey for the Championship, after selector Tony Donnelly dismissed reports that the midfielder has quit the squad.

DOUGLAS dual player Eoin Cadogan faces a busy weekend as both the Cork senior hurlers and footballers continue their pursuit of Allianz National League honours.

IRISH records continued to tumble at the Kantrida Indoor Swimming Complex in Rijeka, Croatia yesterday on the second day of competition at the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2008.

THERE has been a new twist in the ongoing GPA grants saga for inter-county players after the Ladies Football Association said that any funding exclusively for male GAA players would be discrimination against women.

THE Gaelic Players Association has welcomed the agreement between the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI on opening Croke Park next year, describing it as a significant development in the context of the GPA’s discussions with the GAA on intercounty player reimbursement.

THE GPA’s commercial director Donal O’Neill is hopeful that the Government can be persuaded to pass legislation early next year that will provide all inter-county hurlers and footballers with annual grants of between €1,000 and €2,500.