Loftus likely to return as Mayo soccer team aim for Oscar Traynor glory

IT is unlikely Mayo manager, Joe Kelly, will make many changes to his starting eleven for Sunday’s Oscar Traynor Cup Final against Waterford.

That will mean another start for Mark Cunningham, in the heart of the defence, in for the injured Cillian Redmond. Dylan McKee struggled with the astro turf in Athlone, eventually coming off with shin splint trouble. He will be back, despite the good performance of his replacement, Cillian White.

The only question surrounds Jordan Loftus.

If Kelly starts Loftus, it seems likely Ben Edeh will be pushed wide, and that would probably lead to Jack O’Connor watching the early part of the match, at least, from the dug-out.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Mayo captain, Cillian McGlade, told The Mayo News at the weekend.

“It’ll be the biggest game most of us will have played, or will ever play. Obviously, Waterford are a strong side, but we’re a good side too. If you asked me in August would we be here now, in the final, I’d probably have said no, given other years. But it’s been different from the start this time and we’re delighted to be here.”

Mayo coach, Eamonn Daly, has great memories of playing in the Oscar Traynor.

“I won it three times as a player – once here in Milebush – with Kilkenny,” he told The Mayo News. “The lads will be under a bit more pressure given the build-up and the excitement, but once the game comes around they’ll settle down.”

Daly said that the team has put in huge preparation to get this far.

“We won’t do a lot different this week. We will get them focused as the week progresses, but the bulk of the work is done.”

Probable Mayo starting eleven: Gary Cunningham; Cilian McGlade, Ioseph O’Reilly, Mark Cunningham, Andrew Shally; Oran Groarke, Dylan McKee, Darren Browne, Jason Hunt; Jordan Loftus, Ben Edeh.

FIXTURE

OSCAR TRAYNOR CUP FINAL

MAYO V WATERFORD

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 UMBRO PARK, CASTLEBAR AT 1PM