Six Mayo GAA stars return from Chicago for club championship opener

Six Mayo GAA inter-county stars have returned from playing in Chicago to line out for their clubs in the Mayo Club Football Championship.

Many would have been poring over the teamsheets when they were released this morning, eager to find out if their own men would be lining out on this side of the Atlantic this weekend. Of the seven, six will be back in their hometowns and parishes, but for one, the curtain-raisers have come just too soon.

One man who is back is Mayo's superstar forward, Ryan O'Donoghue. The sharpshooter had been lining out for John McBride's in the senior championship, having jetted off Stateside in June.

Now, he's back and back in the starting lineup for Belmullet. O'Donoghue will wear 13 as his men make the trip from the coast to take on Castlebar Mitchels.

Two men who joined O'Donoghue on the plains of Chicago will be hoping to get one over Belmullet in that one. Bob Tuohy and Sean Morahan wore the McBrides colours in the US over the course of the Summer, but are provisionally listed on the bench in this one.

The fourth Mayo man strutting his stuff with John McBride's over the Summer was Cian McHale. McHale tore up defences for fun with Moy Davitts last season in Intermediate, but he'll be watching on from the bench when the ball is thrown in his side's Round One clash with Kilmaine.

Conor Reid is another who has made it back into the fold with his club, as Moy Davitts take on Kilmaine, and he'll be hoping to make an impact from the bench. Also, Davitts will see the return of talismanic Fenton Kelly for their clash with Islandeady.

County champs Ballina will be a man lighter for their Ballyhaunis battle, as Sam Callinan is unavailable.