Padden back in the fold
Seasoned campaigner gets recall for Mayo
Mike Finnerty
THERE was only one minor surprise in the 30-man Mayo senior football squad announced yesterday (Monday) with Billy Joe Padden earning a dramatic recall for the 2010 championship campaign.
The 29-years-old Belmullet midfielder hasn’t played for Mayo since coming on as a substitute in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final defeat to Meath last August and was not part of the Mayo panel for this year’s National League campaign.
John O’Mahony, Tommy Lyons and Kieran Gallagher have also elected to keep fringe players like Castlebar duo Neil Douglas and Alan Feeney, and Garrymore’s Shane Nally on board. Neither Feeney nor Nally got any game-time in this year’s NFL.
However, Ballaghaderreen’s Barry Kelly, Castlebar’s Ger McDonagh, Kiltane’s Mikie Sweeney and Westport’s Lee Keegan, who had all been part of Mayo’s plans during the spring, have been omitted.
The Mayo News understands that Kelly, a member of Mayo’s championship squad last year, informed management that he would be unavailable for selection this summer.
Meanwhile, most of the Mayo senior football squad are due to leave for Portugal next Sunday to begin a six-day training camp ahead of the start of the Connacht championship on June 5. It is not yet clear how many of Mayo’s 30-man squad will be unable to travel due to exam and work commitments.
The travelling party are due to return to Ireland in time for a challenge match against Cavan on Saturday, May 15 in Belmullet to mark the official opening of the North Mayo club’s new €1.8m development.
A full round of club league matches are due to take place on Sunday, May 16.
