Peadar Gardiner makes one change to Mayo U-20 team to face Leitrim

Former Mayo Minor captain Diarmuid Duffy is due to make his first start of the year for the Mayo U-20s. 

The Ballinrobe man is the only change to the Mayo U-20 team that will play Leitrim this evening in the third round of the Connacht U-20 championship in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. Duffy, who has made a number of appearances for the Mayo seniors, has been named in the half-forward line. 

Mayo have also kept faith Rio Mortimer, who starts at corner-back after an impressive display against Galway during his first start of the year for the Mayo U-20s.

READ: Gardiner lauds ‘a great game of football’ as Mayo U-20s prepare to face Leitrim

Peadar Gardiner’s charges are seeking to copper-fasten their position at the top of the Connacht championship table by securing their third win from three games. 

Gardiner’s men have defeated Roscommon at home and Galway so far - a marked improvement from last year’s Connacht campaign, in which they won just one game. 

A win against Leitrim would all but guarantee Mayo’s place in the Connacht final, which will feature the top two teams in the five-team round-robin group. 

Leitrim, who beat Mayo last year under the guidance of ex-Mayo footballer Andy Moran, were beaten by Galway in their first and only championship game of 2025. Their meeting with Mayo throws in at 6.15 pm this evening (Wednesday April 2) in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar. 

The Mayo U-20 team named to start against Leitrim: Conor Meaney (Westport); Rio Mortimer (Claremorris); Paul Gilmore (Claremorris), Eoin McGreal (Garrymore), Hugh O’Loughlin (Kilmaine); John MacMonagle (Castlebar Mitchels), Colm McHale (Moy Davitts); Oliver Armstrong (Knockmore) Seamus Howard (Béal an Mhuirthead); Oisin Cronin (Balla), Cathal Keaveney (Parke Keelogues Crimlin), Diarmuid Duffy (Ballinrobe); Josh Carey (Kiltane), Niall Hurley (Claremorris), Tom Lydon (The Neale).

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