GAA puts Park Live out of park

The GAA Museum has withdrawn its facilities from the RTÉ programme Park Live after objecting to a sketch in this week's programme. The programme has been broadcast from the Croke Park premises for the past year.

According to a source in Motive, the production company behind the programme, stadium director Peter McKenna informed them he no longer wished to accommodate Park Live, which began its second series on Wednesday night.

The source of the unhappiness is believed to be a sketch, featuring comedian Neil Delamere, which was deemed unacceptable by McKenna.

Neither Motive nor RTÉ, who commissioned the programme, were prepared to comment but it has been confirmed that Park Live will not be broadcast from the museum and that an alternative venue will have to be found.

Park Live was moved from its Sunday morning transmission time during last year's first series to a Wednesday night slot this year.

Meanwhile, Mickey Moran has remained loyal to the Mayo team that stuttered past Leitrim for Sunday's Connacht football final against Galway in Castlebar.

Despite the depth of young talent across the county, best exemplified by the under-21s breaking the All-Ireland hoodoo earlier this summer, Moran has remained loyal to the recently misfiring forward six.

Austin O'Malley could still be utilised as an impact replacement but must undergo a fitness test in the coming days, while Conor Mortimer's brother Trevor has been in sparkling form at club level with Shrule/Glencorrib.

Alan Dillon has recovered from concussion and takes his place at left half forward. Midfielder Pat Harte was red-carded the last day but for two yellow cards so there is no suspension.

This means the only certain absentee is David Brady who has a fractured metatarsal. Brady's younger brother Ger remains at centre forward.

The Mayo management of Moran and John Morrison were disappointed with the negative style employed by Galway in the league encounter, while Peter Ford, Mayo by birth, felt they were complaining unnecessarily.

Both sides struggled to really impress in the earlier championship rounds - Mayo in particular only overcame Leitrim by a single point in the semi-final - but considering perennial All-Ireland favourites Armagh and the Munster champions are on the other side of the draw, Sunday provides a real opportunity to make an impact at national level.

Ford will confirm this evening whether Derek Savage has recovered sufficiently from a leg injury to fill the centre forward position.

Westmeath have made three changes for tomorrow's third round qualifier against Sligo in Markievicz Park. Injuries to Brendan Nannery, Joe Fallon and Gordon Duffy mean Derek Heavin, Gary Dolan and 18-year-old John Connellan come in.

Barry Kivlehan returns to the Sligo team for tomorrow's championship qualifier against Westmeath at. Kivlehan has recovered from a calf muscle injury and comes in at left wing back in place of Karol O'Neill who moves to left corner forward in place of Adrian Marren.

The Westmeath hurlers are also out tomorrow at O'Connor Park in Tullamore to face Dublin in the Liam MacCarthy Cup relegation final.

Victory is paramount for the development of hurling in both counties.

MAYO (SFC v Galway): J Healy; D Geraghty, L O'Malley, P Higgins; D Heaney, J Nallen, P Gardiner; R McGarrity, P Harte; BJ Padden, G Brady, A Dillon; C Mortimer, K McDonald, A Moran.

WESTMEATH (SFC v Sligo): G Connaughton; D Healy, J Keane, F O'Boyle; M Ennis, D O'Donoghue, G Glennon; D Duffy, P Bannon; D Heavin, G Dolan, A Mangan; J Connellan, D Glennon, D Dolan (capt).

SLIGO (SFC v Westmeath): P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire (capt), R Donovan; P McGovern, B Egan, B Kivlehan; E O'Hara, T Taylor; J McPartland, M Breheny, P Doohan; D Kelly, S Davey, K O'Neill.

DUBLIN (SHC v Westmeath): G Maguire; G O'Meara, K Ryan, P Brennan; M Carton, R Fallon, T Brady; D Sweeney, S McDonnell; J McCaffrey, L Ryan, D Curtin; J Kelly, K Flynn, A McCrabbe.

WESTMEATH (SHC v Dublin): M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; G Gavin, J Shaw (capt), N Gavin; E Loughlin, A Mitchell; B Smyth, B Murtagh, P Clarke; D Devine, D Carty, J Clarke.