Training camp

Mayo jetting off to Portugal for training camp

Daniel Carey

THE Mayo senior football team will head for Portugal next Sunday for a week-long training camp as preparations for the championship opener on June 22 step up a gear.
John O’Mahony will be hoping all of his squad members come through next weekend’s club championship matches unscathed so they can take their places on the plane.
“I suppose phase one of the championship preparation is over,” the manager told The Mayo News last night (Monday). “Now you’re getting into a different phase, and that’s why, with the players with their clubs two weeks either side of it, it’s a good opportunity to fine-tune our championship preparations.”
Warm weather training camps have become an increasingly common feature of inter-county championship preparation, and the travelling party will include players, management and members of the backroom team as well as a County Board presence.
On the injury front, Trevor Howley has severely damaged his ankle ligaments, but contrary to initial reports, he has not broken any bones.
The Knockmore man saw a specialist last Wednesday who revealed that the x-ray of his ankle showed ‘ligaments detached from the bone’ rather than a fracture.
“It’s still quite a serious injury, but it’s probably not as serious as if it had to go into full cast ... the recovery time might be quicker,” said O’Mahony.
“I wouldn’t be hugely optimistic about him making the Sligo match, but some people have different healing rates.
“The important thing is that everything is being done for everyone and they’re doing it themselves to get back as quickly as possible. What kind of a timeframe is involved, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
The news is better on Liam O’Malley, who is ‘making good progress’ in his recovery from a shin injury, according to O’Mahony. There is a possibility that the defender will play some part in Burrishoole’s championship game against Claremorris.
David Heaney picked up a knee injury during last Thursday’s defeat to Offaly in a challenge match in Roscommon. O’Mahony says the hard ground was probably to blame for the knock, but is hoping that it’s not too serious. “He should be fine,” the manager confirmed.
A number of players sat out last weekend’s club league matches with minor knocks, but Trevor Mortimer’s hamstring strain, Conor Mortimer’s thigh problem, Kieran Conroy’s shoulder trouble and James Gill’s groin injury should all be cleared up in time for next weekend.
O’Mahony won €250 in the recent Mayo GAA Development Draw. The manager said it was ‘nice to get a few bob’ but said with a laugh that he had ‘a lot more invested in it’ than he had won! County Board Treasurer JP Lambe was the recipient of €500 in the draw.