John Fogarty considers the promotion prospects of the sides hoping to join the top tier.

Well known GAA stars have joined forces with Special Olympics Ireland to get ‘freezin’ for a reason’ this December and take the Polar Plunge for charity.

Jim Gavin has intimated that Dublin will not draw up special plans to deal with the threat of Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea around their penalty area in Sunday’s second All-Ireland football semi-final at Croke Park.

Mayo may have annexed their fifth Connacht championship title in a row last month, but it was also their most low-key campaign. 

Conor Lane came in for a lot of criticism from Derry manager Brian McIver after Saturday’s qualifier against Galway. Was it with justification?

Damien Comer’s second-half goal proved decisive as Galway marched on in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, a three points win at the Athletic Grounds earning them a place in tomorrow's third round draw.

Over 200km and a chasm in competitiveness separated Mayo’s defeat of Mayo and Donegal’s destruction of Armagh last Sunday afternoon but in the performances of Aidan O’Shea and Michael Murphy, there was at least one common thread.

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Mayo 1-15 Galway 2-8: A welcome return of the fire and brimstone long associated with this age-old football rivalry, even if Mayo’s dominance continues to reach unprecedented heights.

A blistering second-half start – in which the visitors hit an unanswered 1-3 – powered Mayo to a fifth consecutive championship win over Galway this afternoon.

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

Without a game since April 5, Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes have had to content themselves with watching their opponents stretch their legs, test their systems and try out new strategies.

Galway 1-13 Leitrim 0-8: Job done for Kevin Walsh and Galway, but Mayo will hardly be terrified by what they saw at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

Galway captain Paul Conroy is confident that the Tribesmen will get their championship off to a winning start this weekend in New York.

Finian Hanley believes two of the playing innovations introduced for last year’s International Rules Series would curb the development of Gaelic football’s most worrying trends.

Allianz FL Division 1 Round 2: Westmeath 2-12 Galway 2-13: It’s an awful pity that Paddy Sweeney didn’t live to see this day. A stalwart of the Killannin club which also produced Kevin Walsh, Sweeney also served as an officer of Galway football board but was killed in a work accident over a year ago.

New Galway football manager Kevin Walsh said he will wait until he gets to know the squad better before deciding on who will captain them in 2015.

Australia 56 (0-17-5) Ireland 46 (2-9-7)

Australia 56 Ireland 46

There are those who reject the concept of International Rules and then there is Finian Hanley.

Ireland manager Paul Earley has included players from 15 counties in his 25-man squad for next month’s International Rules test against Australia in Perth.

Back in late 2011 when Alan Mulholland was appointed Galway football manager, he talked about transition.

Just as referees’ performances are open to criticism when it’s deserved, they should be praised when it’s due.

Galway 4-17 Tipperary 4-12

Galway 0-16 Sligo 0-11

London 0-7 Galway 3-17

Galway 0-12 Donegal 1-16

Davy Fitzgerald is set to remain as Clare senior hurling manager for another three years following last night’s county board meeting.

Donegal forward Michael Murphy has been named as Ireland's captain for next Saturday's first International Rules Test, despite doubts over how much of the game he will play.

A total of 15 counties are represented in the 29-man squad today announced by Ireland team manager Paul Earley for the upcoming International Rules series against Australia.

Galway manager Alan Mulholland has made switches in defence and attack for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Armagh at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 5pm).

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 3:

Mayo’s injury crisis is close to crippling point going into Sunday’s Connacht SFC quarter-final derby with Galway.

Galway captain Finian Hanley has been ruled out of the team to face Mayo in Sunday's Connacht SFC quarter-final clash at Pearse Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

For 100 years Galway’s senior footballers have only had four barren spells when they went more than five years without a Connacht title.

Considering Galway have annexed three U21 titles in slightly over a decade, and a minor in 2007, it is difficult to reconcile those facts with the total collapse at senior inter-county level over the same period.

Galway manager Alan Mulholland has made a series of changes to his team for Sunday's Allianz Football League encounter with Westmeath at Tuam Stadium (throw-in 2pm).

Salthil/Knocknacarra 0-12 Tuam Stars 0-07

Michael Meehan will make his first start of this year's Championship when he lines out for Galway against Antrim in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers tomorrow.

Galway captain Finian Hanley will today learn if he will be available for the All-Ireland qualifiers next month.

It was remarked upon several times on Friday afternoon, when over 300 people packed into a hotel at €85 a head for a fundraising lunch for the Galway footballers, that these times were reminiscent of 1998 when the Tribesmen came from nowhere to win the All-Ireland title.

Galway manager Alan Mulholland has named an unchanged team for Saturday's Connacht SFC semi-final against Sligo in Salthill (throw-in 6pm).

Galway defender Finian Hanley has cast doubt over whether Micheal Meehan is ready for a full senior inter-county championship game.