TWINGE Trevor Mortimer (pictured here with Peter Domican of Roscommon) picked up a quad injury during Tuesday night’s training session. Pic: Sportsfile
Mayo’s injury list becomes clearer
Mike Finnerty
THE Mayo medical team could be in for a few busy weeks after it was confirmed last night that at least six players are on the injured list with just eleven days remaining to the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry.
Trevor Mortimer picked up a quad injury during last night’s training session at McHale Park while Aidan O’Shea, Seamus O’Shea, David Clarke, Mark Ronaldson and Peadar Gardiner were all sidelined after picking up injuries in last weekend’s club championship games.
“We’ve got a few knocks and bumps,” James Horan told The Mayo News at the end of Tuesday night’s well-attended press briefing in Castlebar.
“Trevor got a twinge in his quad so we’re not really sure. . He’s just icing it at the moment.
“Peadar picked up a hamstring injury against Ballintubber but he’s made good progress since then and we’d be confident [he'll be okay].
“David Clarke has knee ligament trouble so we’ll just have to wait for the swelling to go down. We’ll know tomorrow how he’s doing then.
"But everyone is still in contention for the Kerry game at this stage.”
The Mayo manager added that Mark Ronaldson, who received a blow to the head during Shrule/Glencorrib’s club championship match last Sunday, had “done some of the warm-ups” last night but that he “needed a few more days” before returning to the fray.
Horan said that he also expected both Aidan and Seamus O’Shea to resume training on Friday.
Meanwhile, competition for places in Mayo’s ‘match day’ 26-man squad for the August 21 clash at Croke Park looks set to be fiercer than ever.
James Horan watched four club championship games in person last weekend and also had members of his management team dotted at matches around the county.
He conceded last night that they were given plenty of food for thought by ‘fringe’ players, most of whom had not been on the replacements bench for the recent All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Cork.
“A couple of guys, and again at training tonight, certainly put their hands up,” he admitted.
“Lee Keegan did very well, and Trevor Howley, Eoin Reilly and Jason Gibbons are all pushing to get into the 26.”
However, the Mayo boss seemed to rule out out the possibility of any new players, including fit-again Conor Mortimer, being added to his extended panel in the coming weeks.
“I think we’re set up, and fairly solid, with what we have at the moment,” he said.
“We’re always looking but, at the moment, we’re two weeks away from a semi-final and we’ll stick with that.”
