Mayo counting down to championship throw-in
Mike Finnerty
THE Mayo senior football team to face London in the Connacht championship quarter-final next Sunday is expected to be named after training tonight (Tuesday).
The only players definitely out of contention to start in Ruislip are long-term injury victims Ronan McGarrity and Keith Higgins, plus Breaffy midfielder Seamus O’Shea who damaged his shoulder against Offaly ten days ago.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Mayo selector Paul Jordan confirmed that both Ger Cafferkey and Enda Varley had also sat out last Sunday’s ‘A v B’ training game in Castlebar.
However, he believed that both players would be ‘fine’ and ‘available for selection’ for next weekend’s novel fixture.
The Mayo News understands that four players who missed Mayo’s entire National League campaign are in line to start next Sunday.
Donal Vaughan and Trevor Howley, who were both injured during the spring, and Shrule/Glencorrib duo Dermot Geraghty and Trevor Mortimer, who only joined the Mayo panel three weeks ago, all showed up well in last weekend’s trial match.
The Mayo squad, management, and County Board officials will fly to London on Saturday afternoon and return to Galway Airport on Sunday night.
“In the greater scheme of things, it’s really just a case of getting the game played, and getting it out of the way,” explained Paul Jordan.
“There are no such things as foregone conclusions but if Mayo are serious about competing this summer then London next Sunday should really just be a step on the journey.
“It isn’t really a game that you’d say that the Mayo players or management can, or will, enjoy. We have a job to do in London. The enjoyment will come from winning.
“Expectations levels are quite high,” he added. “Plus, it’s a no-win situation for us. If Mayo play poorly and win, then the critics will be out in force. And if we play well and win, then they will say that was expected anyway. Really, we just want to go over, play the game, and win it.”
Fixture Connacht SFC
London v Mayo
Sunday, May 29
Ruislip at 3pm
Referee: M Collins (Cork)
