Fitness race for key men
Mike Finnerty
THE Mayo team to face Cork in Sunday’s National League Final is unlikely to be named until next weekend as Trevor Howley, Keith Higgins, Ronan McGarrity, Peadar Gardiner, Aidan Kilcoyne and Enda Varley try to prove their fitness to the Mayo management.
Howley (calf), Higgins (knee) and McGarrity (hamstring) all sat out their clubs’ league matches last Sunday but will be given every chance to convince John O’Mahony of their well-being before he selects his team, and substitutes, for next weekend.
The Mayo News understands that Trevor Howley (who didn’t take any part in training last week) will be fit to play and sat out Knockmore’s game against Crossmolina as a precaution after suffering a calf strain against Cork ten days ago.
However, Keith Higgins and Ronan McGarrity face a race against time to be ready and, if anything, look set to be named on the bench at Croke Park.
Elsewhere, Enda Varley came on for the final quarter of Garrymore’s league win over Aghamore on Sunday but played only a cameo role as he tested out his brittle hamstring.
Peadar Gardiner also made a brief, surprise appearance for Crossmolina as he played for twenty minutes on his return from a broken bone in his arm.
In that same game, Aidan Kilcoyne, who has been taking a full part in training with the Mayo squad for the last few weeks, made an instant impact on his return to the Knockmore colours, scoring six points (five from play).
Kilcoyne was given the all-clear to play by a specialist last week after an examination on the collar-bone injury that he suffered initially against Meath last August.
Meanwhile, Seamus O’Shea showed no ill-effects of his foot injury as he turned in a barnstorming display for Breaffy against Davitts last Sunday. Castlebar duo Barry Moran and Tom Cunniffe also came through their comeback match against Kiltimagh unscathed.
In the opposition camp, Cork will definitely be without John Miskella (groin) and Pearce O’Neill (broken thumb) next Sunday while team captain Graham Canty (shoulder) and Anthony Lynch (groin) are considered very doubtful.