The Connacht GAA Council are predicting McHale Park to be just over ‘half full’ for Sunday’s big match between Mayo and Galway.
UPWARDLY MOBILE Cillian O'Connor, pictured here in action for the Mayo minors last summer, gets his first senior championship start against Galway on Sunday. Pic: Sportsfile
Crowd of 20,000 expected for Mayo game
Mike FinnertyCONNACHT GAA chiefs remain confident that a crowd of approximately 20,000 people will attend Sunday’s provincial SFC semi-final between Mayo and Galway in Castlebar.
Speaking to The Mayo News today (Thursday), Connacht GAA Council Secretary John Prenty confirmed that tickets were selling ‘steadily’ and that the ground should be ‘just over half full’ come throw-in time on Sunday afternoon.
McHale Park’s official capacity since its €16m redevelopment is 35,000.
“We’re expecting a lot of people to turn up on the day and buy their tickets at the ground,” he explained.
“About 2,500 people walked up for the Roscommon v Leitrim match in Carrick-on-Shannon earlier this month and we’d be expecting a lot more than that to do the same on Sunday.
“Anyone who wants to buy tickets this week can do so at ticketmaster.ie and tickets.ie as well as from the Connacht Council office in Ballyhaunis,” added Prenty.
“Plus, we have ticket vans visiting SuperValu stores in Mayo and Galway over the next few days.”
Tickets are being distributed by most Mayo GAA clubs to members tonight.
Meanwhile, Mayo have six changes to the team that beat London last month for Sunday’s clash with the Tribesmen.
James Horan has handed a first senior championship start to 19 years-old Cillian O’Connor from Ballintubber.
Last year’s Mayo minor captain starts at right-corner forward after coming off the bench during the course of Mayo’s hard-fought win in Ruislip.
Trevor Howley, who wore the number 13 shirt against London, has not recovered from a knee injury and was not considered for selection.
Experienced defender Keith Higgins returns to his customary left corner-back position after recovering from a torn hamstring.
The Ballyhaunis defender will be playing his first game with the county side for ten weeks as Dermot Geraghty loses out.
Shrule/Glencorrib’s Trevor Mortimer has been selected at left-half back for his first championship start since last May’s Connacht championship defeat to Sligo. Chris Barrett is now among the subs.
The O’Shea brothers, Seamus and Aidan, have been selected at midfield with Jason Gibbons and James Kilcullen both losing their places.
Knockmore’s Kevin McLoughlin has taken Aidan Campbell’s place at right-half forward.
Interestingly, Dermot Geraghty, Jason Gibbons, James Burke, Eoin O’Reilly and the injured Trevor Howley have not been named among Mayo’s eleven replacements.
However, Mark Ronaldson, who was recalled to the Mayo squad following last month’s win over London, is among the subsitutes.
Sunday’s senior semi-final throws-in at 2pm with Mayo taking on Roscommon in the minor semi-final at 12 noon.
MayoRobert Hennelly (Breaffy); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Alan Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Trevor Mortimer (Shrule-Glencorrib); Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Alan Dillon (Captain, Ballintubber), Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole).
Subs: David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Chris Barrett (Belmullet), Lee Keegan (Westport), James Kilcullen (Ballaghaderreen), Ronan McGarrity (Ballina Stephenites), Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina), Aidan Campbell (Swinford), Enda Varley (Garrymore), Neil Douglas (Castlebar Mitchels), Mark Ronaldson (Shrule-Glencorrib).
