The team for Sunday’s NFL clash with Kildare has been announced (on the official Mayo GAA website). Here it is:

David Clarke; Tom Cunniffe, Kieran Conroy, Colm Boyle; David Heaney, Trevor Howley, Keith Higgins; Ronan McGarritty, Tom Parsons; James Gill, Alan Dillon, Trevor Mortimor; Conor Mortimor, Austin O’Malley, Andy Moran.

Not surprisingly, it’s a case of minor tweaking since the Kerry game, with just two changes from the team that started against the Kingdom, one of which is enforced. However, what is noteworthy is that both of the players who come into the team for Sunday are making their first competitive starts at senior level. As expected, Liam O’Malley finally loses his place in the starting fifteen, with Colm Boyle rewarded for his good showing from the bench against Kerry to claim the left corner-back spot. The other change, necessitated by Peadar Gardiner’s broken jaw, sees James Gill moving to right half-forward, opening the door for Tom Parsons to partner Ronan McGarritty at midfield.

More on the team selection tomorrow.