"You go into any game looking to put in a performance, to put your best foot forward. Clearly, we were second best today."

Mayo manager Stephen Rochford had no complaints following the final whistle in Pairc Ui Rinn.

"Lee is recovering and will continue to be monitored over the coming days. As always, Mayo will follow the established Return to Play protocols."

In a statement issued last night, the Mayo management held their hands up, saying they should have substituted Lee Keegan earlier after he displayed symptoms of concussion.

"Let's see over the course of the league. It will take until the end of the league anyway to know where we are."

Peadar Healy wasn't getting carried away following the Rebels impressive showing against Mayo.

"There is a very thin line between being involved in the bottom and on the top. We're just delighted, some of our boys needed a wee bit of match time and will come on from it."

Monaghan will only get better according to Malachy O'Rourke.

"I think we are going to be competitive, but can we get the wins? That's the problem, we have to get points and next weekend (against Kerry in Killarney) now is all the more difficult."

Roscommon have a fight for survival on their hands and a trip to the Kingdom is next up for joint-manager Kevin McStay and his players.

"That was disappointing. I felt our attitude should have been better and our work rate wasn't nearly good enough."

Eamonn Fitzmaurice will demand a major improvement when they host the Rossies.

"Why we're playing the opening round of the League in January is beyond me. it just doesn't make sense."

The fixtures schedule is not to Jim Gavin's liking.

"I think every team in Division 2 should want to be in Division 1 and if you want to achieve things that's where you need to be, we know that."

Mick O'Dowd and Meath got their promotion bid off to a solid start against Armagh.

"We were in a good position at half-time but to be fair to the boys they didn't sit back. We have a tendency to do that and rely on our defensive qualities too much when we have the lead, and once the first goal went in it was comfortable."

Donegal showed no mercy against Down and Rory Gallagher had every reason to be happy following their 17 point success.

"It was a difficult night for us, coming back up to Division 1 to face the top teams in the country, and the boys are a bit annoyed in there with how they played. The Down mentality is to face the challenge, and we will do that. We will do that all year."

Struggling Down won't throw in the towel, insists manager Eamonn Burns.

"We probably weren't clinical enough with the chances we got. The big thing is, and we've been talking about this for a while now, is that our return from free-kicks is not of the standard that it needs to be to be the top level."

Mickey Harte has identified an area his Tyrone team have to work on in the coming weeks.

"We had a chance to win a trophy and the attitude was good and they went out and gave a good workmanlike performance." 

Despite fielding an understrength side, the Ger Cunningham managed Dublin were far too strong for Wexford in the Walsh Cup decider.

"Hopefully we will be lifting more important trophies before the year is out."

Captain Liam Rushe has his sights set on bigger prizes in the year ahead.

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