The Irish Times reported yesterday that Diarmuid Connolly is all but certain to miss Dublin’s next two league matches, including the one against us at Croke Park a fortnight tomorrow. The Vincent’s man went over on his ankle in last Sunday’s match against Kerry down in Killarney and is expected to be out of action for a month.
Dublin’s midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley – who single-handedly engineered his team’s comeback against us in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final – will also sit out that game, as he’ll be suspended due to the straight red he got down in Killarney. The Dubs do, however, have a ready-made replacement for the combative Ballyboden man in the shape of the equally combative but slightly less mobile Denis Bastick, who will be available for selection again following a separate sending-off suspension a few weeks back.
In other news, Jason Doherty’s positive start to the year continues apace. The Burrishoole man was the star of the show for DIT in their Sigerson quarter-final win over NUIM on Wednesday, scoring eight points, four of them from play. DIT also have Aidan O’Shea and Darran O’Sullivan in their ranks and they now face DCU in the competition’s semi-final. DCU made short work of UCD yesterday, in a match where Donegal’s Michael Murphy scored an absolutely outrageous point for the winners and where his teammate Kevin McLoughlin got the line for two bookable offences.
Finally, Connacht GAA have announced that details of the province’s squad for this weekend’s interpro semi-final against a Kildare-less Leinster will be unveiled at 1pm today. That clash, by the way, is fixed for Pearse Park in Longford on Sunday, where throw-in is set for 2pm.
UPDATE: The Connacht football panel has now been announced and there are eight of our lads on it: David Clarke, Ger Cafferkey, Lee Keegan, Barry Moran, Aidan O’Shea, Seamus O’Shea, Michael Conroy and Jason Doherty. Full details are here.
Having seen the first two league games I have to say that Doherty is the one surprise. I think he has done very well. He also seems bulkier than last year and has shown well for ball. I feel he has improved a lot.
Whan I vas young yesterday we did not worry abbort the opposition only if was kerry galway fermanagh down meath or mayo.
Dont worry about these dublin hot shots and glamor boys we shall beat them by 3 points. Diarmuid Connolly is a nice ang good footballer but we would mark him off the pitch . Theres only way of beating dublin and thats by scoring more than them lads. I will have the brand new mayo jersey on and the wife that i bought her for valentines days and we will head to hill 16 to see us win. Doherty is the best foward in Ireland and has been for some time so I disagree with Sinabhuil above. But hes correctly right about most things.
Mayo to have four all star forwards in 2013 doherty, dillon,mcloughlin,A moran.Just hope JH realizes the talented forwards he has at his command,not forgetting conroy,oconner reagan.freeman c,freeman a, also outstanding minor James Durcan,also A Walsh,Quite some time since Mayo had so many talented forwards available.Throw in the best midfielders in ireland A OSEA, B Moran, E Reagan,when back to full fitness,will be an automatic replacement for c mortomer,Bring back Tom Parsons,into panel along with Jason Gibbons, S OSEA,Parsons pace and ability to take a pass on the shoulder of colleague is indisspensible.No need to go into defense three all stars already,the stout hearted R Feeney, All Mayo need is beliefe,Outstanding panel all Mayo need is getting selection and possioning right for every game and BE NOT AFRAID . MAITH AN FIR.