Edwin McGreal
A NUMBER of Mayo’s 2011 championship squad are expected to be released ahead of the start of pre-season training which is set to commence after next weekend’s FBD League Final trip to New York.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Mayo manager James Horan said that he was hoping to bring in “seven to eight” new players ahead of the start of next season, with the same number of players due to be released from the county set-up.
Horan was in McHale Park on both Saturday and Sunday to watch the Mayo club championship semi-finals, and admitted that some players currently outside the panel had done their prospects no harm. He also hinted that a number of current squad players had failed to impress.
“After we come back from New York, we’ll be having an assessment weekend in Castlebar,” explained the Mayo manager.
“We’ll be deciding what new guys will be coming in and what guys won’t be coming back. There were a number of players over the weekend who played themselves into contention and a number of players who I was very disappointed with,” said Horan.
Davitts’ Michael Conroy and Burrishoole’s Adrian McManamon are believed to be among a group of players who will be called into a provisional Mayo training squad this Winter.
MEANWHILE, James Horan also confirmed that Robbie Hennelly, Andy Moran, Donal Vaughan, Tom Cunniffe, Trevor Mortimer and Keith Higgins are among those not travelling to New York on Friday for a variety of reasons.
He also clarified that only players from the championship squad will be making the trip.
“It’s a chance for us to relax, have a bit of fun, and there’s a game there as well,” he said. “The rugby [Ireland v Wales] will be on at 1am there on Friday night. It’s a chance for us to unwind after the season.”
Elsewhere, Mayo’s new physical trainer, Cian O’Neill, was expected to be ratified in the position at last night’s Mayo GAA Board meeting while Horan confirmed that he would not be appointing any additional selectors to his management team.