Although it wasn’t widely identified as a trend — more reported as a series of unrelated events — an intriguing development in 2017 was the signing by the managers of the country’s top four football teams to stay on until 2020, writes Kieran Shannon.

“I fear that this may make the College look ridiculous. Are we to have a ‘Fresh Week' in 2018/19?”

Mayo may not have beaten Dublin in a competitive fixture for almost six years, but Stephen Rochford says that his team ‘certainly don’t fear’ the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions.

Few Mayo supporters have been watching their team closer than Kevin Keane in recent months.

It was the end of the world as we knew it. That’s what we were told, anyway. That the reprieve offered to Diarmuid Connolly by two of the three men sitting on the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) panel had taken a match to the GAA’s disciplinary system.

Last year, the GAA’s disciplinary system was again the source of controversy. 

Kevin Keane is Cork based illustrator and comic book artist.

Ryan Price would appear to have put himself in pole position to be Cork’s starting goalkeeper for the championship after he was named in the side for tomorrow’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash with Kerry in Tralee (2pm).

Tipperary will be without influential forward Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher for next Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League quarter-final clash with Clare in Ennis.

Fears expressed for the GAA’s disciplinary system — in the wake of Diarmuid Connolly’s successful appeal against a suspension that allowed him play in Dublin’s All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo this year — have eased significantly in the wake of a landmark case held in Belfast this week.

Aidan O’Shea maintains he was head-butted by Philly McMahon in last month’s drawn All-Ireland semi-final.

GAA Director General Páraic Duffy has insisted that the Association’s disciplinary structures do not need change despite a number of recent controversies.

“Lost my appeal to the red card I got in club game. Irony: any appeal I’ve won in the past I was as guilty as sin. The one time I’m innocent, I lose.” - Eamon McGee @EamonMcGee

Mickey Harte is to have talks with the Tyrone County Board over his future as manager of the Tyrone senior team.

September dawns and the GAA’s disciplinary system finds itself occupied in a month in which it is usually dormant.

Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-15: Seven electric minutes at the end couldn’t overshadow the caution and cynicism that preceded it, but Mayo may well have saved something of football’s soul — not to mention their season and sanity — by clawing back a seven-point deficit to claim a replay from this tempestuous All-Ireland semi-final.

There was a time, back in the late 1990s and throughout most of the 2000s, when every Galway defeat was followed by plaintive calls from the vanquished westerners to change the system.

Next year’s Congress is likely to vote on a motion upgrading a dive from a yellow card to a black or red card offence in the wake of the Tiernan McCann case.

Mayo’s hopes of qualifying for the All-Ireland football final have received a boost with confirmation that Kevin Keane will be available for Sunday week’s clash with Dublin.

The Central Hearings Committee (CHC) face a busy schedule in Croke Park this and tomorrow evening as they address challenges to the proposed bans for Tiernan McCann and two players arising from last month’s Dublin-Armagh challenge game.

Mayo co-manager Noel Connelly says David Clarke and Tom Cunniffe are likely to be available for Sunday week’s All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

Satisfying, said Keith Higgins. Not exhilarating, not life-changing, but satisfying.

My first permanent teaching post was in St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, 20 years ago this September.

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

Mayo have received a boost ahead of their All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday week with the versatile Seamie O’Shea expected to be available.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has displayed his bold streak once again by altering more than a quarter of his Kerry team for Saturday’s Munster football final replay with Cork.

Brian Whelahan has stepped down as Offaly senior hurling manager after two seasons in charge, the board’s executive informed club delegates in Tullamore last night.

It takes more than guts to come back. Mayo fall guys in All-Ireland finals usually stay fallen. Dermot Geraghty never recovered from 2004. Dermot Flanagan admittedly was on his way out in 1997. But when 2012 befell Kevin Keane he had time on his side.

Kerry 0-10 Mayo 2-11: Allianz Football League Division 1: 

A garda has denied that he saw a colleague punch a man in the head during an incident which left five officers injured.

Mayo’s request for next Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final replay with Kerry in Limerick to be postponed and held in Croke Park seven days later is unlikely to be entertained by the GAA.

New York 0-08 Mayo 4-18

Cillian O'Connor will make his first league start of the season this weekend when Mayo welcome Cork to MacHale Park.

WESTMEATH 3-9 MAYO 2-17

Kildare 2-19 Mayo 2-18

Mayo manager James Horan wants GAA referees’ chief Pat McEnaney to review the black card ruling before the National League begins to prevent “anarchy” taking place in matches.