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AIT and Westmeath GAA have launched an academy to nurture and develop highly skilled young players. Up to 80 players will be selected annually to participate on a development programme which will run for five years.

Corofin received some measure of consolation after their Connacht senior club championship defeat to Castlebar Mitchels when they collected the county u-21 A title after defeating old rivals Salthill/Knocknacarra by 3-11 to 1-11, at Pearse Stadium at the weekend.

Connacht are continuing to move swiftly to agree contract extensions for key players.

All roads lead to Castlebar on Sunday for Mayo’s showcase football final. The proximity of the two clubs with brothers and cousins being on opposite teams makes it intriguing to say the least. Barry Moran being fit for the Mitchels is a must to combat the power of the O’Shea brothers. I expect Castlebar to have the resources to shut out the threat of Alan Durcan, Liam Irwin, and co, and don’t expect them to get the same freedom they were afforded in the semi-final win over Charlestown. However Breaffy have a mean back line themselves and a very hard working half forward line to boot. I still think Castlebar hold the aces up front, and in Neil Douglas, Neil Lydon, and Richie Feeney they have three top drawer forwards. It is simple, the mid field battle decides who wins the game. If Castlebar break even in the middle their superior forward line will see them through. The bookies see this as a foregone conclusion, I am not so sure it’s that straightforward. Castlebar at 10/11 to start at -2 is the bet of the weekend.

In what could be one of the greatest ascendencies in Westmeath sporting history, Robbie Henshaw could claim a first senior cap only 451 days after leading his school to just their second ever Connacht Senior Cup victory.

By Colm Gannon

They may not be the current kings of the game, but the thought of getting one over Kerry is something that supporters from every other county still relishes. On Sunday in Elverys McHale Park, Mayo will start their Allianz National Football League campaign looking to give those there in support of the green and red that very same satisfaction come full time, and set themselves up nicely to retain their division one status at the very least.

Ten Mayo players have been rewarded for their performances in this year’s football championship with nominations for the GAA GPA All Stars. Mayo’s haul of 10 nominations was only two short of All Ireland champions Donegal’s total. Both Alan Dillon and Andy Moran will be looking to pick up their second All Star awards with their nominations for this year. David Clark’s great year in goal has seen him get the nod alongside Dublin’s Stephen Cluxton and Donegal’s Paul Durcan. Both Keith Higgins and Ger Cafferkey were given nominations in the full back line, with Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle in the half back line. Both Aidan O’Shea and Barry Moran are up for one of the midfield berths, with Kevin McLoughlin joining Dillon and Moran in the race for a All Star in the forwards. Cillian O’Connor, who won the young player of the year last year, is nominated again this year for the same award.

Mayo were 10 points to the good on Sunday early in the second half, leading 0-17 to 0-7, and yet they were reduced to stumbling over the finish line to win by three. Had David Clarke not made a tremendous save in a one-on-one with Bernard Brogan near the finish, which would have levelled the game, it would probably be Dublin who would be facing Donegal in the All-Ireland final.

Mayo were 10 points to the good on Sunday early in the second half, leading 0-17 to 0-7, and yet they were reduced to stumbling over the finish line to win by three.