As months go, Kieran Donaghy can think of plenty better than the last two gone.

A second-half full of purpose and intensity ensured Donegal, minus talisman Michael Murphy, recovered from a three-point half-time deficit to defeat Mayo by the minimum in an entertaining challenge match in Swinford yesterday.

PREVIEW: By Shaun Cronin, Sports Reporter

Ballintubber forward Cillian O'Connor is the only change to the Mayo team to face Cork in Sunday's Allianz League Division 1 final.

Alan Dillon believes Mayo are a match for any team in the country —providing they keep their work-rate high.

Jack O’Connor defended Kieran Donaghy after his misdirected kick allowed Mayo back into yesterday’s Division 1 semi-final.

With a 7pm flight to catch to Portugal, Mayo left it late enough to pull off their first victory over Kerry in Croke Park in 16 years.

Croke Park was enveloped in something of a twilight zone yesterday.

James Horan is targeting a prolonged run in the league to keep his Mayo charges sharp as they make a belated start to their championship campaign.

It’s the stepping stone. The launch pad. The shout to the top.

Defending champions Mayo wrapped up the group stages of the FBD League with a 0-14 to 1-9 victory over Roscommon in Ballinlough today.

MAYO footballers received a massive boost with the news that injured ace Andy Moran is expected to return to action in January.

THIS year’s Mayo football final will be a repeat of the 2010 decider after semi-final wins for the defending champions, Ballintubber, and Castlebar Mitchels over the weekend.

INJURED Mayo midfielder Ronan McGarrity returned to training with the county squad last night, less than two weeks before the Connacht SFC semi-final showdown with Galway.

NEW Mayo manager James Horan will be without some of his most experienced stars as they begin the defence of their FBD Connacht League title next Sunday.

ANGER is mounting among the hundreds of people who this time last year had to flee their homes in Galway, Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon as the Shannon and other smaller rivers burst their banks and flooded thousands of acres.

ONE of the country’s largest building companies, McNamara Construction, has gone into receivership – putting a number of major construction projects around the country on hold and threatening the future of thousands of sub-contractor employees.

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.

Galway 1-14 Mayo 2-12

Mayo 3-18 Roscommon 0-07

Mayo 0-9 Dublin 0-9

DONEGAL 2-10 MAYO 1-13

Derry 1-09 Mayo 0-10

DUBLIN manager Pat Gilroy has handed debuts to two players for Saturday’s National league Division One tie against Tyrone at Croke Park.

Connacht 2-15 Leinster 0-11

One of those “but the winners won’t worry about that” kind of days. But Tyrone should worry about it.

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.

Ballina Stephenites (Mayo) 2-8 St Brigid's (Roscommon) 0-12

Midfielder Pat Harte is straight back into the Mayo team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Derry after serving a suspension (Celtic Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Galway gained revenge on Mayo for their NFL semi-final defeat - winning decisively by 2-10 to 0-9 - to kickstart their Connacht SFC title bid in sunny Salthill.

Donegal 0-13 Mayo 0-10, Croke Park

Mayo have made two team changes for this Sunday's meeting with Cork in the National Football League.

Despite missing some star names, Mayo proved too strong for a misfiring Fermanagh side as the Connacht champions ran out 0-12 to 1-7 winners in Clones this afternoon.

Mayo 1-10 Limerick 0-7

Kerry's Kieran Donaghy saw red in Castlebar as Mayo avenged last year's All-Ireland final defeat to the Kingdom.

Billy Joe Padden, more recognised as a half-forward, will continue his deployment at the heart of Mayo's defence in Sunday's NFL Division 1A meeting with Kerry.

Kerry 4-15 Mayo 3-5

Dublin midfielder Ciaran Whelan is expecting today's All-Ireland SFC final to go right down to the wire, with Kerry to "pip it".