Mike Finnerty
YOUNG Footballer of the Year Diarmuid O’Connor missed Mayo’s defeat to Cavan last Sunday after suffering a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury.
O’Connor was not part of Mayo’s match-day squad of 26 last weekend and The Mayo News understands that he will not return to full training or competitive action until his hamstring has fully healed again.
The 22 year-old damaged his hamstring initially while playing with DCU in the Higher Education Football League Final at the beginning of December.
As a result he only came on as a substitute for Mayo’s opening two National League matches against Monaghan and Kerry, while he was replaced during the recent defeat to Dublin.
A decision on whether or not the Ballintubber clubman will be togged for next Sunday’s trip to Tyrone will not be taken until later this week, but it would seem highly unlikely that he will be involved at this stage.
Stephen Rochford is also weighing up the possibility of including one or both of the O’Shea brothers — Aidan and Seamus — for Sunday’s gamea which is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
Both of the O'Sheas played sixty minutes for Breaffy last Sunday morning and showed no ill-effects of their recent injuries.
Neither of them have lined out for Mayo since last October.
Meanwhile, Jason Doherty, who has missed Mayo’s last three games with a hamstring injury, is also trying to prove his fitness ahead of next weekend.
The Dublin-based forward has been sidelined for the last four weeks and will be monitored closely this week before a decision is taken on whether or not he will be considered for selection on Sunday.
However, Belmullet defender Chris Barrett did return to Mayo’s match-day panel last weekend after playing for his club on St Patrick’s Day in the Michael Walsh League.
Barrett, who hasn’t played for Mayo since last year’s All-Ireland Final, was an unused sub against Cavan.
Meanwhile, Barry Moran, Alan Dillon and Ger Cafferkey are all currently rehabilitating from their respective injuries and are not believed to be in consideration for next weekend.
Sunday’s match against Tyrone throws-in at 3pm at Healy Park, Omagh.
Hamstring injury sidelines Mayo star again
