Varley ruled out of Mayo plans for February

Varley ruled out for February


Mike Finnerty

MAYO manager James Horan is expected to name his team for next Sunday’s Allianz NFL match with Kerry after training tonight (Tuesday).
However, he will be without Enda Varley for ‘at least a few weeks’ after the Garrymore corner-forward damaged shoulder ligaments during the first half of last Friday’s FBD Connacht League final.
Varley joins Alan Freeman (hand), David Clarke (ankle) and Seamus O’Shea (ankle) on the short-term injured list of players who will miss upcoming games against Kerry and Galway.
Donal Vaughan, meanwhile, is currently recovering from groin surgery and will miss the entire NFL campaign while Conor Mortimer has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
On a more positive note, Trevor Howley is ‘very close’ to being available for selection next Sunday according to the Mayo boss, while Barry Moran should also have recovered from ‘bad bruising’ which kept him out of the FBD decider.
Horan also confirmed that James Kilcullen, who was not togged out for the last Friday night’s win over NUI, Galway, will be ‘available for selection’ next weekend.
The Mayo manager is expected to prune his panel a little further ahead of the third round NFL clash with Galway on Sunday, February 27.
The likes of Austin O’Malley, Ian Rowland, Michael Nestor and James McAndrew have already been released from the extended squad.
The Mayo panel trained and held a lengthy meeting in Castlebar last Sunday as they started to step up their preparations for their six remaining league matches, three of which will be on home soil.
The Mayo captain for the 2011 season is also expected to be finalised later this week with Alan Dillon and Andy Moran the only candidates in contention.
Dillon, who was named Ballintubber’s ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ at the county champion’s annual Dinner Dance last weekend, is expected to get the nod.