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Keith Higgins had his fair share of ups and downs with Mayo in the eight years he has been on the scene with the senior team, but the move up the field to the half-foward line from corner back was one that took most people by surprise before throw in for the All Ireland quarter final at the start of the month. But it was something that the Ballyhaunis man enjoyed, even if it did not last that long with Tom Cunniffe’s injury forcing him back into the full-back line before the half-time break. “As I said it was a new experience, but the fact the game went so well, it made it easier for the 20 minutes it lasted,” he laughed at last week’s press night.

It was a frustrating start to the year for two-time All Star Alan Dillon, he had been sidelined by injury since the All Ireland final last year and his return to action was stop-start until his late inclusion in the starting line up in Pearse Stadium against Galway in May. It was a long hard road to recovery, but he hasn’t looked back since. “It was a rough national league and spring, but since the Galway game, I’ve got a lot of individual and group sessions in along with a couple of club championship games, it’s full steam ahead for the past few weeks.” Dillon, who made his championship debut ten seasons ago back in 2003, has been to three All Ireland senior finals, picked up two All Stars and five Connacht senior medals in his decorated senior career so far, but he is had to slow the pace down this year to ensure he is in top shape. “It’s a injury that you’d have some questions for, it’s just one of those that thankfully I’ve put to bed now. As a guy who is going in fifth gear and 100 miles an hour most of the time, it took a bit of discipline and education by myself to learn how to manage things and I’ve it now under control. It was a groin problem, it’s common enough amongst a lot of footballers, it’s about managing it. Recovery is a big thing it’s about ensuring that you do your rehab as best you can after sessions.”

Five years ago, Kevin Keane was looking forward to hopefully a long summer of minor football in the green and red of Mayo. That summer brought him all the way to Croke Park on All Ireland final day and ultimately a heartbreaking defeat to Tyrone in a final replay in Longford. Since then Keane has worked his way though the ranks of the u21s and up to a starting spot in the senior final against Donegal last September. The Westport native and Sligo IT student was in McHale Park this week to launch this year’s Electric Ireland All Ireland minor championships, and he puts what he learned playing in the minor championship five years ago as one of the major reasons he is where he is today in the game. “Back in 2008, it was a great honour to represent your county first and foremost and then to go on to where we got, was just amazing. It was a huge stepping stone looking back on it now, getting to represent Mayo as a senior footballer. It was a great level to learn your trade as a footballer, which is what it’s all about really in developing you as a footballer. I was lucky enough to win a Connacht title and get to an All Ireland final in Croke Park, which at 18 years of age is one of the most amazing things you can ever do as a footballer, especially when you’re only 18.”

Galway received a boost yesterday with the announcement that mobile innovation company Synchronoss Technologies Inc is creating 30 new jobs in the city.

Connacht are still waiting final fitness testing on new signing Dan Parks ahead of tomorrow evening’s first interprovincial fixture of the season.

It has taken a little over 210 minutes of championship football to get here. Leitrim, Sligo and Down all stood in the way, but were not up to the challenge. On Sunday things get very real, but this is what Mayo have been preparing for ever since the final whistle blew in the same venue in last year’s All Ireland semi-final against Kerry. They are back to where they want to be, their fourth championship game in a five game series they hope will end in victory and a place in the All Ireland final for the first time in six years and another crack at bringing Sam Maguire back to Mayo. But that is another battle to be fought at a later date, and all that will be on Mayo minds on Sunday is the game ahead of them.

GRETCHEN PETERS, the Nashville based singer-songwriter plays Kelly’s, Bridge Street, on Monday July 23 at 8pm as part of the Galway Arts Festival.

ONLY A couple of weeks remain until the curtain rises on the epic DruidMurphy cycle and the company is in the thick of technical rehearsals at the Town Hall, preparing for what is sure to be a highlight of the theatrical year.

The Galway footballers will face a stiff assessment of their credentials this Sunday in Tuam Stadium when they face table toppers Tyrone (2.30pm) in round five of the National Football League.

Mullingar’s St Patrick’s Day parade is set to go global this year, becoming the first parade outside of Dublin to be streamed in its entirety live over the internet.