Castlebar in line to host final

Castlebar in line to host final


Mike Finnerty

MAYO GAA chiefs will find out next week if next month’s Connacht SFC Final is to be played at McHale Park, Castlebar.
Mayo booked their place in the provincial decider last Sunday while London and Leitrim meet in the second semi-final in Carrick-on-Shannon next weekend.
A decision will then be taken by the Connacht GAA Council on a venue for the final, with the Mayo GAA Board in line to receive a badly-needed financial windfall if McHale Park gets the green light.
The Connacht GAA Council issued a statement yesterday (Monday) confirming that Hyde Park, Roscommon is out of the running to host the showpiece game due to health and safety issues.
Therefore, McHale Park and Pearse Stadium, Salthill are the only possible venues for the July 21 fixture.
The Mayo News understands that a Mayo versus London decider would almost certainly be played in Castlebar.
If the Exiles beat Leitrim next Sunday, officials are expecting a crowd of only approximately 10,000 people at the final against Mayo.
However, a repeat of the 1994 decider between Mayo and Leitrim could attract an audience of between 15,000 and 20,000.
Meanwhile, David Clarke (hamstring), Keith Higgins (hamstring) and Ger Cafferkey (ankle) were Mayo’s only casualties from last weekend’s facile win over Roscommon.
All three were replaced during the second half due to their respective injuries and will be monitored closely ahead of next weekend’s club championship fixtures.
On a positive note, both Barry Moran and Jason Doherty were named among the Mayo replacements last Sunday as they edged closer to a return to action.
Cathal Freeman and Evan Regan, who were not included in Mayo’s match-day 26 last weekend, have also returned to training.
Mayo have been installed as 1/50 favourites with some bookmakers to win their third successive Connacht SFC title for the first time since 1950.
James Horan, however, doesn’t intend to get too hung up on the issue of being raging hot favourites, regardless of who the opposition is next time out.
“It is what it is,” he said. “We know that if we do our stuff we’re very capable. We’re just going to keep trying to do that and keep performing to a high level.”