Horan looking for ‘three or four’ players for Mayo

SEARCH FOR A STAR Mayo manager James Horan is looking for players to ‘hold their hands up’ ahead of the start of the National League.?Pic: Sportsfile

Horan looking for ‘three or four’ players


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Mike Finnerty

FINDING ‘three or four players that can walk straight on to a National League team’ is James Horan’s main priority during this year’s FBD Connacht League.
Speaking to The Mayo News after last Sunday’s defeat to Leitrim, the Mayo manager said he hoped this week’s games would see players “holding their hands up” ahead of the NFL opener against Kerry next month.
“We’re trying to develop three or four players,” he said. “We’ve a lot of places up for grabs for the National League.
“We’re a little bit behind the curve in terms of starting training because of a few bits and pieces but we’re looking for three or four players that can walk straight on to a National League team, to see how they can do.
“We’ll be trying out a few different guys,” he added when asked about his team selection for tomorrow night’s match against GMIT. “Looking to see who will put their hands up.”
Last year’s All-Ireland finalists played their best football in the second quarter, rattling off five points from play in the space of nine minutes, but Horan felt positives were few and far between on the day.
“I thought when we moved during the second half of the first half, we got some good scores. Tom Cunniffe was a positive, in his first game back. He looked fresh and sharp.
“Outside that it was disappointing.”
Mayo’s hopes of regaining the FBD League title ended with last Sunday’s reversal.
Despite the fact that the squad only returned from a week-long holiday in Miami a few days earlier, Horan said he was disappointed with his players’ work-rate, or lack of it, on Sunday when push came to shove.
“The sleeping pattern wouldn’t have been ideal. The mistakes and our general decision-making, I’m okay with that, but our work-rate was disappointing.
“We got a bit lazy and Leitrim had the world of possession and did what they wanted with it.
“Our work-rate in the second half was disappointing,” he admitted. “But full credit to Leitrim, they were strong and competitive and fully deserved their win. They taught us a few lessons and we’ll take them and move on.”