It was a case of home thoughts from abroad for the Kildare Nationalist this week as they sent John MacKenna to Chicago to interview Niall Buckley, the county's stalwart midfielder who emigrated this year. From a distance, Buckley gave some insight into the pressure of being a footballer in Kildare, a county with high expectations. "Supporters can be very fickle," Buckley told MacKenna. "They expect a miracle every Sunday. Every player is going to have off-days, players are people, they're people with family problems or whatever, but supporters don't seem to take that into consideration. Some supporters, most supporters, respect you and what you do, but some think they have a God-given right to come up to you when they feel it and tell you what you're doing wrong. That's what you're up against."

The 25th anniversary of Sligo's last Connacht championship win got the full treatment in the Sligo Champion, Mickey Kearins recalling the great day in '75. Expect more reminiscences after yesterday's win over Mayo. In the Connaught Telegraph, retired centrefielder Liam McHale tipped Mayo - after first presenting a list of arguments on why Sligo had reason to be hopeful. And, finally, to the Wexford People and the picture of the week (above right). Not the picture - "pressure, what pressure" - you want to look at after a 15-point beating.