The resignation of Stephen Rochford as manager of the Mayo Senior football team is “disappointing and a shock”, according to GAA commentator Martin Carney.

He told Midwest Radio this morning that over the weekend it was understood that Stephen would stay on and it was rumoured that he had planned to bring in former Mayo player Peter Ford, who had previously managed Galway and Sligo, and Shane Conway into his new management team.

It is understood however, that at a meeting of the Mayo County Board's Executive committee on Sunday, members did not endorse Rochford's new management team.

At about 6pm yesterday Stephen issued a statement announcing his decision to step down.

Connacht GAA Secretary John Prenty talked to Midwest Radio today to outline the reasons why Saturday's game between Kildare and Mayo is still in line to ahead in Croke Park after the storm over the Kildare's nominated venue of St Conleth's Park not being adequate to cater for the anticipated attendance. 

Listen back now.

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18,000 euro has today been allocated to Belmullet GAA Club for the installation of a fence and the purchase of nets.

The funding from the dept of the Gaeltacht and the Islands, has been announced today by the Minister for Rural affairs Michael Ring

The Minister describes Belmullet GAA Club as a fantastic club with over 400 members, 2 playing pitches, and 4 changing rooms. It serves eight primary schools and two secondary schools and its facilities are used by other clubs in the area for training.

Roscommon will play Down in Dr Hyde Park on Sunday next at 2pm. The game is being preceded by the Division 3 Ladies NFL Match between Roscommon and Meath which throws in at 12 noon.

As there is a large crowd expected at the games patrons are asked to be considerate to others when parking their cars. A number of households have complained that their driveways were blocked by cars parking in front of gates during the Meath match.

In addition, the Gardaí have stated that they ticketed a large number of cars which were parked on footpaths and others which were causing obstructions in housing estates.

Roscommon town boasts year round free parking and there are sufficient public car parks around the town for all patrons to park safely.

Patrons are urged to park legally and ensure that they do not obstruct any gate ways or park in a way that could prevent an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or fire engine from gaining access to an incident.

The next stages of the Connacht Club fixtures have been confirmed.

In the AIB Club Junior football championship final on Saturday, Easkey take on Clonbur in Enniscrone at 1.30.

The intermediate final is down for decision on Sunday as An Spideal  meet Roscommon champions Fuerty in Tuam Stadium at 1.30.

The following weekend sees Mayo teams in action in the AIB Club Intermediate hurling and football finals.

In the hurling final on Saturday 24th November, Tooreen take on Oranmore Maree in Athleague at 1.30, while on Sunday 25th November in the AIB Club senior football final, Ballintubber meet Corofin in MacHale Park, Castlebar at 1.30pm.

All 33 of this weekend's Allianz National League have been postponed due to the adverse weather conditions.

The fifth round of Hurling League games will now be played next weekend with quarter-finals moved to St Patrick's weekend.

The semis will be played a week later with the final pushed back to the 31st of March.

Round Five of the Football League will be rescheduled for the weekend of March 11th. Any exceptions to the above will be addressed in the revised fixture programme to be issued on Monday. 

Meanwhile All Lidl National Football League games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed, due to adverse weather conditions. 

Counties involved in Division 3 and 4 will play this round on the weekend of the 17^th/18^th March and Counties involved in Division 1 and 2 will play their games on the weekend of the 7^th/8^th April.

Michael Walsh Senior Knockout

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Final 1), Garrymore 3-8 Westport St Patrick's 1-13

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Final 2), Knockmore W/O Bohola Moy Davitts  -

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Finals 4), Breaffy 2-10 Aghamore 1-12

Michael Walsh Intermediate Group 2

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Round 1), Swinford W/O Ballinrobe  -

Michael Walsh Intermediate Group 4

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Round 1), Neale 1-16 Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-13

Michael Walsh Intermediate Knockout

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Final 3), Kiltimagh 2-12 Ballyhaunis 0-13

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Final 4), Islandeady 0-13 Ardnaree Sarsfields 0-22

Michael Walsh Junior Group 1

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Round 4), Tuar Mhic Eadaigh 2-16 Castlebar Mitchels Football 0-10

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Round 4), Killala W/O Eastern Gaels  -

Michael Walsh Junior Group 2

Sat, 15 Jun,

(Round: Round 4), Kilcommon W/O Hollymount-Carramore  -

Sun, 16 Jun,

(Round: Round 4), Crossmolina Deel Rovers 0-5 Knockmore 5-16

Sun, 16 Jun,

(Round: Round 4), Kilmeena 2-19 Breaffy 0-7

North Mayo Junior Championship Knockout

Sun, 16 Jun,

(Round: Quarter Final), Belmullet 4-10 Bonniconlon 2-8

The GAA have confirmed the fixtures for the All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior club championships in the New Year.

In the Junior Club football semi-final, Sligo champions Easkey take on Red Hughs of Donegal in Ballinamore on Sunday 20th January at 2pm.

An Spidéal of Galway meet Naomh Éanna of Antrim in the All-Ireland Intermediate club semi-final on the same day - 20th January - at 2pm in Navan.

And in the All-Ireland senior club football semi-final, Galway champions Corofin meet Gaoth Dobhair of Donegal in Carrick on Shannon on Sat 16th February.

Galway side Oranmore-Maree take on St Galls of Antrim in the All-Ireland intermediate hurling semi-final on 20th January also, with a venue yet to be confirmed.

In the All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-final, Galway side St Thomas meet Ruairí Óg of Antrim on 9th Feb in Parnell Park, Dublin.

Yesterday's postponed games in the Allianz Hurling League have resulted in this year's final being moved back a week.

The Division 1A meetings of Wexford and Kilkenny, and Cork and Tipperary have been re-arranged for next Sunday, as has the 1B clash of Waterford and Galway.

The quarter final meeting of Limerick and Laois will go ahead as planned on Saturday, but the other three quarter finals have been pushed back to St. Patrick's weekend.

The semi finals will now take place on the weekend of March 23rd and 24th, and the final on the same weekend as the football finals at the end of this month. 

Sunday’s blockbuster of Mayo & Galway will be live on Midwest Radio with thanks to our championship sponsor Salamanca’s Tapas Bar Dublin.

Angelina Nugent will bring you all the big match build up and post match analysis live from our satellite cruiser in an extended Sunday Sports Show from 2-7pm with former Mayo star Alan Dillon and Galway great Michael Meehan. 

The game throws in at 4pm and Michael D. McAndrew will be joined by Martin Carney for commentary on the tie.

Both teams are due to be announced tomorrow evening.

At a meeting of Roscommon GAA held yesterday evening Anthony Cunningham was ratified as manager of the Roscommon Senior Football team.

Anthony Cunningham is no stranger to Roscommon GAA having previously managed the Roscommon senior hurling team and the St Brigid’s Football team for three years winning two Connacht titles.

Anthony managed Garrycastle in Westmeath to an All-Ireland Club Football Final and he also managed the Galway Senior Hurling team from 2011 until 2016 reaching two All-Ireland Finals.  

The process to select a manager commenced on September 10^th when the committee was ratified by Roscommon Co Board and given the mandate to recruit a new Senior Team Manager. The committee consisted of Chairman Seamus Sweeney. Secretary Brian Carroll and Treasurer of the county board David O’Connor and they were joined by Niall Carty former Roscommon Senior team captain and Ciarán Heneghan a former Roscommon senior footballer. Tonight, they proposed the name of Anthony Cunningham to the clubs of Roscommon which was agreed by the clubs.

Mayo U21 B Semi-Finals
Ardnaree 3-17 Burrishoole 2-14 AET 
Charlestown 6-13 Ballyhaunis 3-06 

South Mayo Brennan Cup Final  
Claremorris 3-17 Garrymore 1-20 

Fixture chaos is feared as there are no signs of a breakthrough in the stand- off between Kildare and the G-A-A.

The Lillywhites are refusing to play their third round qualifier against Mayo at Croke Park this weekend, as they feel they should have home advantage.

Former Disputes Resolution Authority head Jack Anderson has suggested that Kildare could mount a successful legal challenge.

An injunction could stall the Championship and lead to a fixture pile up.

Kildare manager Cian O'Neill is showing no signs of changing his stance, and says it's Newbridge or nowhere....

Mayo Junior A Football Final 
Balla 1-12 
Achill 1-07

Connacht GAA Post Primary Schools Football Senior A Championship

Sunday 3rd February 2019

Venue: Cong GAA Pitch

Throw in: 2.30pm

Ballinrobe CS v Rice College Westport

Connacht Senior Club Football Semi-Finals
Ballintubber 3-11 Aughawillian 1-08
Corofin 4-22 Clann na nGael 0-07 

Connacht Intermediate Semi-Final 
Fuerty 2-12 Shamrock Gaels 0-06

Connacht Junior Club Football Semi-Final 
Clonbur 1-12 Kilglass Gaels 0-12 

County Senior Football Semi-Final replay 
Ballintubber 0-16 Castlebar Mitchels 0-15 AET 

Ballyvary Hurling Club has issued a statement on Twitter appealing to Mayo County Board to reverse their decision to exclude them from the list of clubs to benefit from JP McManus’ donation.

Mayo County Board, like others around the country, will receive €100,000 of the donation from Mr McManus.

Last night on Twitter Ballyvary Hurling Club said they were deeply disappointed to learn that they will receive no allocation from the money and said they understood it was to be divided equally among all clubs in the county.

They have called on the County Board to reverse their decision.

Meanwhile Caiseal Gaels has this morning issued a statement saying they share Ballyvary's disappointment in not receiving any money from the fund. They say they believe the money was given for the development of clubs in the county, so being one of two clubs who were left out when funding was allocated in Mayo is very disheartening as we strive to promote GAA activity in Mayo. They say they echo Ballyvary's call for Mayo County Board to reconsider this allocation. 

The Brisbane Lions said farewell to teammate Cian Hanley today after the Category B Rookie decided to return to his homeland of Ireland.

The 21-year-old made the difficult decision to part with the Club after experiencing personal challenges over the past 12 months. Hanley said it was the right decision for him to return home.

 “The club has been unbelievable, I’m very appreciative of what they’ve done over the last while. It’s no fault of theirs I’m going home,” Hanley told lions.com.au.

“It’s just more me and personal reasons and I just think it’s the right time to go.” 

Over the past few months, Hanley has had many discussions about his future with family, friends and the Club, working through all possible options to come to the best outcome for him and his family.

General Manager of Football David Noble said the team will miss Cian's personality and tremendous work ethic. 

“Cian has been one of our hardest workers over the last three years particularly, overcoming injury and personal adversity with such a professional attitude, it is very sad to see him go home. We will miss his infectious smile, his positive attitude and bubbly contribution to our Club. We wish him a safe trip back home to Ireland where he will reconnect with his family.” Noble said.

Hanley followed older brother Pearce, a former Lion, to the Club in late 2014 after being selected with the 56^th pick in the Rookie Draft.

His first two seasons were crippled with injuries but in 2017 he played an important part in the NEAFL team’s premiership victory.

Mayo Intermediate Football Semi-Finals
Burrishoole 1-15 
The Neale 0-14

Belmullet 2-11 
Kiltimagh 2-09