Mayo minors unchanged for Tyrone test

Mayo minors unchanged for Tyrone test


Mike Finnerty

DESPITE fitness concerns over centre-half back Conor Walsh, Mayo have named the same starting fifteen for next Sunday’s All-Ireland Minor FC semi-final against Tyrone at Croke Park.
Mayo boss Tony Duffy has picked the Balla defender at number six as he recovers from a dead leg while Brendan Harrison, who had a shoulder problem, is retained at right-corner-back.
Elsewhere, Mayo are unchanged from the side that beat Offaly last time out.
Meanwhile, Tyrone manager Raymond Munroe has been singing the praises of the Connacht champions in advance of Sunday’s showdown.   “Mayo are still feeling the hurt from losing last year’s final against Armagh so this will make them very dangerous opponents,” he said this week.
“We have to be on our guard — they have boys who have experience of playing in Croke Park and they will be very keen to go the full distance this year in view of the setbacks they have suffered.”
Munroe, who lined out for Tyrone against the Mayo over 40s in last year’s All-Ireland Masters Final, has also been impressed by Mayo’s physical qualities this summer.
“They appear to be a big strong side and they will be very determined. I think that we are capable of improving on our recent performances all the same,” he said.
The counties last met at this grade in the 2008 All-Ireland minor final, a game that Tyrone won after a replay, but Munroe, who was in charge of that side too, knows that will count for nothing next weekend.
“That’s all history now, what matters is this next tie,” he admitted. “We must be very careful not to be left chasing the game, we need to get off to a good start and to keep our noses in front.”
Tyrone, who hammered Armagh in the Ulster Final and knocked Kerry out in the All-Ireland quarter-final, will be looking to Peter Canavan’s nephew, Thomas, for inspiration up front.

MAYO
1. Paul Mannion (Mayo Gaels);

2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore);
3. Niall Freeman (Aghamore);
4. Ciaran Twomey (Ballina Stephenites);

5. Ryan Quirke (Claremorris),
6. Conor Walsh (Balla),
7. Conor Horan (Swinford);

8. Danny Kirby (Castlebar Mitchels),
9. Sean McGarry (Ballina Stephenites);

10. Fergal Durkan (Castlebar Mitchels),
11. Michael Forde (Ballycastle),
12. Sean Kelly (Moy Davitts);

13. Jack McDonnell (Swinford),
14. Darren Coen (Hollymount),
15. Cillian O'Connor (Ballintubber).