Mayo manager happy with defence

Eight players sit this one out


Mike Finnerty

EIGHT members of the Mayo senior football squad sat out last Sunday’s challenge match against Antrim as James Horan decided to take no chances with any of his injured players.
Ger Cafferkey (hamstring), Keith Higgins (hamstring), Andy Moran (groin), Ronan McGarrity (achilles), Kevin McLoughlin (ankle), Peadar Gardiner (ankle), Richie Feeney (calf) and Alan Dillon (ankle) all watched on from the sidelines in Kiltimagh.
However, only Higgins and McGarrity look like being under pressure to be ready for Mayo’s opening Connacht championship game against London on Sunday, May 29 in Ruislip.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, the Mayo manager outlined what he had taken from last weekend’s exercise against an out-of-sorts Antrim selection.
“We thought it would be more competitive but sometimes it’s no harm to have an easy game so that lads can start to get comfortable with what we’re trying to do,” he explained.
“We also learnt that Donie Vaughan and Trevor Howley aren’t that far off the pace at all, so that shows that our rehab programmes are working well. Their displays were a big positive.
“Eoin Reilly also played well and has put himself right into the frame.”
Meanwhile, there will be a full programme of Mayo GAA senior league matches over the next two weekends.
However, the round seven games that had originally been fixed for the weekend of May 21/22 have been postponed until a later date.