Mayo are ready to go again

THERE FOR THE TAKING Mayo and Dublin chasing All-Ireland medals and glory. Pic: Ray Ryan

Mike Finnerty

MAYO manager Stephen Rochford looks set to name an unchanged team for the first time this year for next Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Final replay against Dublin (throw-in at 5pm).
The Mayo squad spent 24 hours ‘in camp’ last weekend in Limerick in preparation for next weekend’s match, with both Cillian O’Connor and Evan Regan taking part in training.
O’Connor (ankle) and Regan (head) picked up knocks in the drawn match on Sunday week last but the duo are believed to have shown no ill-effects during last Saturday’s training session.
Mayo captain O’Connor has started every one of the county’s championship matches since coming on as a sub in the 2013 Connacht Final victory over London.
His club-mate Alan Dillon is only expected to return to training tonight (Tuesday) as he tries to recover from a foot injury that he sustained after a collision with Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan nine days ago.
The Mayo News understands that the Ballintubber forward had his foot in a protective boot last week in an effort to speed up the healing process, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be fit to play any part in next Sunday’s match.
Dillon, who turns 34 this Thursday, was on the field for 15 minutes against Dublin in the drawn game, scoring a point, and management are likely to give the former All Star every chance to prove his fitness.
The Mayo team is expected to be released to the public on Friday lunch-time, at around the same time that the squad will leave to travel to their base in Dublin.
The Mayo players, backroom staff and management will return to Mayo on Sunday afternoon by train. They are expected to arrive in Castlebar between 5pm and 6pm.
Meanwhile, Mayo GAA have confirmed that tickets for next Saturday night’s All-Ireland Final banquet at Citywest Hotel in Dublin are selling fast yet again.
Banquet tickets cost €60 with ‘afters’ tickets costing €20. Both are available by calling Dermot at the MacHale Park office on 094 9250487 or 087 6219843.