Mayo manager Kevin McStay makes eight changes for final league game in Monaghan

Mayo GAA senior football manager Kevin McStay has made a whole host of changes for Sunday's final league clash of a topsy-turvy National Football League campaign.

His side go into the game safe in the knowledge that they cannot be relegated and face a Monaghan side who know they will be playing Division 2 football next season.

Mayo supporters will be delighted to see the return of team captain Paddy Durcan, which is one of eight changes to the team defeated by Derry last weekend.

The other players to come into the starting 15 are goalkeeper Rory Byrne, with defenders Michael Plunkett and David McBrien  back in the starting line up.

In the forwards, Darren McHale, Frank Irwin, Cillian O'Connor and Paul Towey all get a chance to impress, with Aidan O'Shea moving back to a familiar midfield role. He will equal Andy Moran’s appearance record of 185 League and Championship appearances for Mayo.

This Sunday’s meeting will be the 21st between the counties in the league, with the first being a 1981 meeting in Monaghan which Mayo won 2-9 to 1-7. Of the previous 20 meetings, Mayo have won 13, Monaghan 6, with just one draw, the 1985 meeting in Castlebar. 11 of the games have been played at Monaghan venues, 8 in Mayo, and the 1986 semi-final meeting which Monaghan won 0-10 to 1-6 was played in Croke Park. 5 different Monaghan venues have hosted League meetings between the counties, Clones 5, Clontibret 2, Scotstown 2, Monaghan 1 and Inniskeen 1, with Mayo’s home games being played in Castlebar 7 and Ballina 1.

Despite being regular league opponents in recent times, Mayo and Monaghan have only ever met once in the championship, and that was as recently as 2022, when Mayo triumphed 1-13 to 0-12 in Castlebar.

Fermanagh native Niall Cullen has been confirmed as the referee for Sunday. The game throws in at 1.45pm in Clones and is live on Midwest Radio. Mayo GAA will have live updates across all social media platforms on Sunday afternoon. Purchase your tickets here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/mayofbdiv1

The Mayo senior football team is as follows:

1. Rory Byrne Castlebar Mitchels

2. Aaron McDonnell Ballinrobe

3. Rory Brickenden Westport

4. Sam Callinan Ballina Stephenites

5. Paddy Durcan (C) Castlebar Mitchels

6. David McBrien Ballaghaderreen

7. Michael Plunkett Ballintubber

8. Matthew Ruane Breaffy

9. Aidan O’Shea Breaffy

10. Darren McHale Knockmore

11. Ryan O’Donoghue Béal an Mhuirthead

12. Frank Irwin Ballina Stephenites

13. Tommy Conroy The Neale

14. Cillian O’Connor Ballintubber

15. Paul Towey Charlestown Sarsfields

Management:

Manager: Kevin McStay

Coach/Selectors: Stephen Rochford, Donie Buckley, Damien Mulligan and Joe Canney