News Round-Up:After a successful playing season, that saw them lose only six of their 16 competitive matches, Wicklow have reappointed Mick O'Dwyer to a second year as manager of the county's senior football team.
The highlight of the year was winning the Tommy Murphy Cup competition at the beginning of August, beating Antrim in the final with a dramatic last-minute goal by Tommy Gill.
O'Dwyer had been hoping to restart training for his county squad at the beginning of October, but that has had to be put back to the end of the month because of the hold-up in completing the county championship.
The Wicklow County Committee has also ratified the same backroom team for O'Dwyer - with Arthur French as his assistant manager; and Kevin O'Brien, Philip McGillycuddy and Gerry Farrell as the selectors.
FLOODLIGHTS:Opposition has been mounted to plans for floodlights to be installed at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.
Galway GAA officials had hoped their hurlers and footballers could be playing their National League games next spring under lights at the 34,000-capacity venue.
But their application to erect four pylons at the ground - each of the pylons will be 56 metres high with 62 lights on each one - is being opposed by local residents.
An Taisce have now joined local residents in opposing the plan to install permanent floodlights - temporary lights were introduced last October when a capacity crowd turned up for the International Rules clash between Ireland and Australia.
An Taisce have told Galway City Council that the floodlights would impact on the quality of life of people living near the ground. "The height of the masts are obtrusive on the skyline and would represent a visual blot on the Salthill horizon," say An Taisce in a submission to the local authority.
Galway City Council is due to make a ruling on the application in the coming weeks.
GALWAY SQUAD: There is growing speculation in Galway that hurling manager Ger Loughnane is about to wield the axe with some of the squad's more established players.
That could mean former All Stars Eugene Cloonan and Derek Hardiman might find themselves surplus to requirements next season.
Loughnane has been holding "debriefing" sessions with his charges over the past few weeks as he tries to mount a serious challenge for the All-Ireland title next year. Most of the 2007 squad have been interviewed and their views sought.
But Cloonan and Hardiman are among the notables who are still waiting for a call - and now fearing the worst - with corner back Damien Joyce, full back Diarmuid Cloonan and centre forward Mark Kerins also facing an anxious wait.
Loughnane has told Galway hurling officials he intends to freshen the side for next year and has been keeping a close eye as Galway captured the All-Ireland under-21 crown recently.
The Galway manager said he would also be surveying the closing stages of the county championship - the quarter-finals of the Galway hurling championship are down for decision this weekend.
GOAL CHALLENGE:Kerry had to call on all their reserves to rescue a (3-5 to 1-11) draw against three-in-row county champions South Kerry at a rain-lashed Austin Stack Park last night.
The All-Ireland champions were trailing 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time as the players struggled to keep their balance in driving wind and rain.
In the second half, manager Pat O'Shea scored two goals to snatch a draw for Kerry.
SCORERS- Kerry: P O'Shea 2-1; B Sheehan 1-0; K O'Leary 0-2; K Young, H O'Neill 0-1 each. South Kerry: N O'Driscoll 0-5; S Courtney 1-2; R Keane 0-2; R O'Connor, A O'Connor 0-1 each.
