Trevor Howley may have to undergo surgery.
Howley and Douglas ruled out
Preview
Daniel Carey
MAYO will be without Trevor Howley and Neil Douglas for next Sunday’s Allianz National Football League Division 1 game against Galway as James Horan’s injury list grows ever longer.
Howley “won’t be in contention for a few weeks”, Mayo manager Horan told The Mayo News, and could be facing surgery on his ankle. The Knockmore man aggravated an old injury in the FBD League match against Roscommon and hasn’t played since. He “might need a minor op”, according to the manager.
Douglas tore a hamstring in last Sunday’s defeat by Kerry, but Mayo are “not sure how bad a tear it is” just yet, Horan explained. The Castlebar Mitchels man was withdrawn 20 minutes after coming on as a sub in McHale Park.
Chris Barrett could be in line for some action in Tuam next weekend after missing last Sunday’s game due to a hamstring tear. The Belmullet man will be assessed at training tonight (Tuesday) but “will be close”, according to the manager.
Enda Varley “won’t be far off”, he added. The Garrymore man “may not be ready for the weekend” but will be assessed at training to see how he’s recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the FBD League final.
Keith Higgins will miss the Galway and Armagh games as he doesn’t return from holiday in Australia until mid-March. Seamus O’Shea is “getting closer” but is “not match-ready yet”, Horan explained. The Breaffy man is recovering from an ankle injury and is starting training this week.
Goalkeeper David Clarke is still out – “his ankle has been slow to heal”. Ballinrobe’s Donal Vaughan, who’s recovering from a groin injury, is “still a good few weeks away”, as is Aghamore’s Alan Freeman, who broke a bone in his hand in the National Football League opener against Down.
Galway welcomed back Joe Bergin (following illness) and Diarmuid Blake (following an operation on his toe) for last Sunday’s defeat by Down. Paul Conroy, who was involved with St James’s, controversially beaten in the All-Ireland intermediate final, was back in situ, but his club-mate Eoin Concannon has been nursing an injury and has yet to return.
Goalkeeper Adrian Faherty and defender Gareth Bradshaw, who both missed Sunday’s game after getting injured on Sigerson Cup duty, could both in contention for next weekend. Tomás Ó Flaharta has added a number of new players to the panel. One of these – Kilconly’s Kevin Brady – came on as a sub in the five-point defeat, while Darren Mullahy is also back training.
Michael Meehan and Pádraic Joyce were both interested spectators in Newry. Meehan has returned from Australia but will play no part in the National League, while Joyce is likely to miss most of the league too.
Fixture
NFL Division 1
Galway v Mayo
Sunday, February 27
2.30pm in Tuam
Referee: D Fahy (Longford)
