Home draw

Mayo get a home draw

Preview
Adrian Hession

MAYO will prepare for a first ever Christy Ring Cup semi-final next Saturday, July 26, when Carlow come to McHale Park. With the final being played in Croke Park in a triple header with the McCarthy Cup semi-finals, the incentive is there for Martin Brennan and Pete Finnerty to get one more big game out of their troops. A recovery pool session is planned for the panel tonight (Tuesday), while the Mayo starting line-up is expected to be announced after training on Thursday evening.
For many of the dual players in the Mayo side, it will be a case of getting as much rest as possible this week, as the players drag their bodies through their third championship outing in the space of seven days. Keith Higgins and Derek Walsh were prominent in Ballyhaunis’s win over a Westport team who had Stephen Broderick in their ranks last Sunday. Belmullet had Paddy Barrett, Derek McDonnell and Seamie Barrett in tow for their victory over Bonniconlon, while Tooreen trio Adrian Freeman, Shane Morley and Stephen Coyne endured the long trek to Kilmeena for their clash with Aghamore. To be a hurler in Mayo these days, you have to be willing to jump through a few hoops.
The Mayo side has been very settled in their three outings in the Christy Ring Cup so far and little change is expected for the tie with the side from the sunny south-east. Micheal Walsh will take his place in goal, after fending off the challenge of sub goalkeeper Tomás Duffy in recent weeks. The Mayo full-back line has been Mayo’s most solid this year, with Derek Walsh, Aidan Connolly and Stephen Coyne having only conceded one goal in almost 230 minutes of hurling. However, a doubt will remain over Connolly until later in the week, after he was forced to cry off at half time against Wicklow with a recurring shoulder injury.The Mayo half-back line took a while to settle against the Garden County on Saturday, but all three will be expected to resume their places. However, a fully fit Paddy Barrett will be pushing hard to step into the central pivotal role ahead of the Carlow game, in a swap in positions with his clubmate Seamie Barrett. Conor Ryan has been a revelation at left half-back for Mayo all season, and the Westport man is expected to turn in another fine performance next Saturday.
The midfield pairing of Pearse and Keith Higgins weaved their magic in Aughrim when it was most needed, and their mixture of experience and speed is a test for any team. Mayo’s attacking options this year have been boosted immensely by the introduction of Eoghan Madigan as an impact substitute, and he will be battling hard for a starting position next Saturday, with possibly Ciaran Hynes or Derek McDonnell losing out. Stephen Broderick, Adrian Freeman, Derek McConn and Niall Murphy will all be expected to resume their places in the Mayo attack and having already amassed 3-48 in their previous three outings, things are beginning to happen in the Mayo scoring department.
The Mayo bench has been used efficiently in recent outings, with the versatile Kevin Healy featuring in all championship outings to date. Shane Morley can provide the cover for the Mayo rearguard while Declan Gallagher, Sean Ganley and Martin Devaney have scoring qualities if called upon.
The Mayo hurlers usually attract in the region of 100 spectators for their home ties, but the Mayo hurling fraternity hope that all GAA followers in Mayo will be out in force next Saturday. With the demolition ball due to make an appearance in McHale Park in the coming weeks, the hurlers have a chance to see off the old ground in style and give the GAA supporters of Mayo a chance to see the old ground as it is for one last time.