CLUB?Enda Varley
Eight players released from senior squad
Mike Finnerty
MAYO’S joint football managers Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes have made the first hard calls of their tenure after eight players were released from the county senior squad last week.
Enda Varley, Darren Coen and Gavin Duffy were the three highest-profile players to be let go by the new management team, with Caolan Crowe (Garrymore), Alex Corduff (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Rogers (Ballaghaderreen), Stephen Duffy (Crossmolina) and Peter Dravins (Breaffy) also released back to their clubs.
Meanwhile, Seamie O’Shea and Tom Cunniffe have both resumed training and are back in consideration for a place in the Mayo team to face Monaghan on Sunday in the third round of the National League.
Diarmuid O’Connor will be assessed by Mayo’s medical team this week after being taken off with an injury during DCU’s Sigerson Cup Final victory over UCC last Saturday.
However, Jason Gibbons (hamstring), Mickey Conroy (Achilles), Alan Dillon (hamstring), Andy Moran, Brendan Harrison (ankle), Tom Parsons (foot) and Chris Barrett (foot) are all out of contention for Sunday’s game due to their respective injuries.
Ballyhaunis forward Morgan Lyons and Adam Gallagher of Mayo Gaels, who were both part of the Mayo senior squad in recent months, have both been released back to the county under-21 panel ahead of their Connacht Championship match against Leitrim next month.
Meanwhile, with heavy rain forecast for the coming days, MacHale Park will be closely monitored this week to ensure the pitch is playable for Sunday’s clash with Monaghan.
Last Sunday’s National Hurling League match between Mayo and Meath was switched from MacHale Park to the Connacht GAA COE in Bekan due to patches of water on the playing surface.
The Mayo News understands that in the event of the Castlebar pitch being unplayable, James Stephens Park in Ballina would be the designated ‘alternative’ venue.
Fixture
NFL Division 1
Mayo v Monaghan
Sunday, March 1
Castlebar at 2pm
Referee: R Hickey (Clare)
