It’s safety first for Mayo as Dubs come to town

DOUBLE TROUBLE?Mayo’s Mark Ronaldson, right, permits himself a smile of satisfaction after scoring his side’s first goal, with team-mate Aidan O’Shea, against Derry in Celtic Park on Sunday.?Pic: Sportsfile

It’s safety first for Mayo as Dubs come to town


Mike Finnerty

VICTORY over Dublin next Saturday night would guarantee Mayo’s safety in Division 1 of the National Football League and put them in a strong position to make the semi-finals, according to the team’s joint manager Noel Connelly.
Mayo’s third win of this campaign, away to Derry last Sunday, means they remain on top of the league table with home games against Dublin and Donegal, and a trip to Cork, still to come.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Connelly said that retaining their top-flight status remained Mayo’s ‘priority’ but admitted that beating Dublin in Castlebar could also pave the way for a crack at the league title.
“The next round of games will put daylight between teams and we need to get two more points to be sure of safety. That’s our priority.
“A win is a win, beating Derry is two points. We have to get safe first in the division, it’s very tight, so every two points you get helps you to get safe.
“Dublin are one of the top two teams in the country. They’re bringing back most of their top players, and I think they’ll have even more of their regulars back for the match next weekend.
“They’re looking for points so it will be a big test for us. But if we win that we could be in contention for a place in the semi-finals.”
Injuries
MEANWHILE, Cillian O’Connor has emerged as Mayo’s biggest injury worry ahead of next Saturday night’s floodlit clash with Dublin at MacHale Park, Castlebar.
The All Star from Ballintubber went off during the second half against Derry with a knee injury.
“Cillian has a slight knee knock so it’s possible he could be out for the next two weeks,” said Noel Connelly after Sunday’s game.
He also confirmed that, despite being named among the Mayo subs, Donie Vaughan didn’t travel to Derry with the squad because of ‘a slight hamstring injury’ so ‘wasn’t risked’.
However, the Ballinrobe clubman is expected to have recovered sufficiently to be available for selection for next Saturday night.
Chris Barrett (ankle), Tom Parsons (foot) and Evan Regan (shoulder) are not expected to feature in Mayo’s match-day squads for a number of weeks due to their respective injuries.
The Mayo team is due to be announced on Thursday night.