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Every fixture until the end of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division season carries huge significance for Athlone Town, who host St Patrick’s Athletic at Lissywoolen tomorrow evening.

The inclusion of Gavin Duffy in the Mayo senior squad certainly got tongues wagging in the county and several people asked about my opinion on the matter. Gavin Duffy played midfield for the Mayo minors in an All-Ireland final in 1999, which is 15 long years ago. My senior inter county career finished the same year, I wonder would James Horan be interested in a fifth choice goalkeeper; you have my number, James. There is certainly no guarantee a good minor will become an integral part of a senior set up and I have watched many brilliant minors fall by the way side and some weren’t even playing club football by the time they were 22, but in Duffy’s case I’m sure he would have made the grade. The fact that he went on to have a very successful professional rugby career with Connacht and Harlequins reassures me that whatever he put his hand to he would have been a success. There are loads of positives to take from his inclusion in the panel. He has been a professional sportsman for the guts of 15 years so the physique, stamina and temperament are already in place. He is a leader and captained Connacht for many years and his inclusion will lift the tempo at Mayo training and push the existing players that bit further.

The continuing rise of Damien McGrath to the elite level of the game will continue this summer with the north Mayo man whistler heading the European Championships in Poland/Ukraine. McGrath has been appointed to take part in the tournament as an assistant referee which will be another high point to McGrath’s career. He has previously been involved in Champions League and Europa League games and was also involved in the action in the European u21 Championships in Denmark last year.

The Spanish Arch Bar and Live Venue may have undergone substantial changes in recent years, but all of them appear to have endeared it further to locals and visitors alike. Located in Galway’s Latin Quarter, its wide range of quality food and constant line up of live music have affirmed its status as one of Quay Street’s most renowned establishments.

Fresh from winning their 19th championship, Manchester United now take on Barcelona this Saturday in the UEFA Champions League final, and Kelly’s Bar is throwing a big party for all Man Utd fans. Leading the chants will be Hector Ó hEochagáin, who will also have a pre-match DJ set, so expect the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, et al from the glory days of the ‘Madchester’ era.

To Mark Africa Day, Galway will host a series of musical and cultural events this Saturday at Club Áras na nGael, Dominick Street, that will provide 11 hours of entertainment for both Galwegians and the city’s African community.

Mayo League referee Damien McGrath’s upwards trajectory in the game will continue at pace on Sunday. The north Mayo whistle blower will be first assistant referee in Sunday’s Ford FAI Cup final between League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. McGrath’s stock in the game has been rising over the past number of years and he was rewarded earlier in the autumn when he was appointed as first assistant referee in a UEFA Champions League group game. On Sunday he will once again be first assistant referee with Thomas Connolly the man in the middle.

Mayo will be represented in the first round of the Champions League next week when Damien McGrath steps out on to the field in the biggest club competition in the world. McGrath’s stock has risen highly in Mayo and nationally over the past number of years and this is just the latest high level promotion for him. McGrath will be first assistant referee, alongside the all Irish team of Alan Kelly who will be the referee, Ken Hennessey, and Paraic Sutton, who will act as fourth official. The two additional assistants are Anthony Buttimer and Neil Doyle. “It’s a great honour for me and also for the Mayo referees branch,” McGrath said.

Castlebar Celtic currently sit in fourth place in the Newstalk A Championship table on seven points from their six games. This weekend they are looking to push their points total on to 10 when Dundalk come to Celtic Park on Sunday evening.

Castlebar Celtic will welcome Bohemians to the Celtic Park on Sunday for their second game in the Newstalk A league on Sunday afternoon. Celtic opened up the their league campaign last Sunday with a 1-1 draw away to Sporting Fingal in Dublin. An under strength Celtic side saw manager Declan Kilkelly have to go between the sticks due to an injury crisis. Chris Rowland opened the scoring for Celtic after 20 minutes and went in at the break leading. Sporting Fingal had former Irish international Glenn Crowe in their ranks, and Kilkelly was very happy with the performance of his centre half, pairing against such an established League of Ireland performer. “Declan Flynn and Shane Moran, who it has to be remembered is only 18, did really well for us against Sporting Fingal,” he said. “They are a top side who have come on a lot since they came into the league a number of years ago.” Having to go into goal wasn’t something that Kilkelly wanted to do, and he hopes he doesn’t have to again. “It wasn’t something I really wanted to do, but you have to do these things and I did my best for the lads. I’m still a bit sore after it. I took a bang in the ribs near the end which is still a bit sore at the minute.”