We’ve named our team for the league clash with Cork on Sunday (throw-in 3pm), a match that could be decisive in determining whether or not we have a place in Division One next year. Here are the details of the starting fifteen and subs for Páirc Uí Chaoimh:
Mayo (NFL Division One v Cork, 7/4/2013): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Chris Barrett (Belmullet), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Shane McHale (Knockmore); Lee Keegan (Westport), Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Cathal Carolan (Crossmolina); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Michael Conroy (Davitts). Subs: Kenneth O’Malley (Ballinrobe), Kevin Keane (Westport), Michael Walsh (Ardnaree), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Enda Varley (Garrymore), Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Brian Gallagher (Claremorris), Darren Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Alan Murphy (Ballinrobe).
So it’s three changes – all of them enforced – from the side that started in the win against Donegal two weekends ago. Out from that team go the injured Keith Higgins, Barry Moran and Jason Doherty and they’re replaced respectively by Shane McHale, Jason Gibbons and Alan Freeman. Jason’s injury has, however, been classified as “slight” and he has been named on the bench for Sunday. There was some speculation that Alan Dillon might also feature in the replacements list but this hasn’t happened. A late addition to the subs’ list on match day, perhaps?
Almost as strong a team as they could have put out in the circumstances. Doherty wasn’t firing of late and Freeman deserves his chance. If he could get back to his 2010 form, he would be a major asset. I also think Gibbons deserved another chance. He showed promise last year and needs to start delivering. The only thing I don’t agree with is the curious way in which Kevin Keane hasn’t been started at all this year. I thought he was outstanding last year, aside from a couple of nervy openings to matches, and was a great prospect for the future. But Horan doesn’t seem to have played him at all this year and Sunday seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so with Keith injured. Barrett is a good player but is a little slight for my liking and is more of a wing back anyway. Just a curious omission, in my opinion. I think Mayo will win this match, they probably need it that bit more than Cork, which is sometimes all that matters in the league.
While the absence of the 3 amigos will be felt, still it will be good for Gibbons, McHale and Freeman (from the start) to get game time. Should help their confidence, and at least Cork are missing quite a few.
Down must have a good chance of getting to 4 points, which could make things very interesting!
I think Kevin is paying a very heavy price for the first few minutes of the AIF, wrongly IMO . We must remember he had played only 4 championship matches before that, so was lacking experience . This can hardly do much for his confidence , and I was impressed by him before that. If he can’t handle the high ball in I doubt Cris will
I think KK is better being saved the cold start ,as the match progresses and the nervous tension of the first quarter is spent on the bench he will probably then have a better more settled impact. Mayo to win by 4 or 5 pts.
Have we discovered another Cillian O’Connor in Belmullet or is Cillian of Ballintubber transferred? Or is Willie Joe’s concentration a little bit off?
Aside from that there are no surprises to me although I thought AOS might revert to midfield for the day. We need big performances from the whole team and those coming in need big performances for themselves.If they do not deliver they have to fall down the pecking order for the summer.
All in all I think we will make it through – I think we now have the hard edge for tight battles which we were lacking for years.
i agree with AnnMarie Kevin Keane played some outstanding football last year and this was the perfect opportunity to give him a start, would not have foreseen his absence from the starting 15 through the league also time to give alan murphy a run, but we have every chance and hopefully we’ll get a good result on sunday,
Well spotted, Andy – just me falling asleep at the wheel I’m afraid! It’s been a long week.
Good luck lads it will bo tough butthey can win no one giving them a chance according to bookies
It’ll be a tough game, no doubt, but that’s a beatable team Cork have named.
It’s be nice to win and stay up off our own backs, rather than relying on Tyrone or Dublin.
Can’t make up my mind whether to try and hold out without knowing the Mayo score and watch the deferred coverage ‘live’, or listen to the lads on mid-west.
But with so much riding on all of tomorrows Div 1 games, I think the tension may well get the better of me.
Either way, good luck to the lads tomorrow.
Nephin, I agree with you on KK. I was sure he’d have a starting spot this weekend.
Short sighted IMO.
Looking forward to O’ Shea getting a hold of O’Leary again remember that shoulder he hit him with in Croker 2 years ago? Savage!
I feel it’s Dunkirk for both Freeman and Gibbons if they don’t perform tomorrow. I have heard that they both are top class in training but of late can’t do it on the pitch. Then again you see top strikers in the premiership loosing form from time to time and they on huge money. So let’s wish them the best and hope they throw caution to the wind and just go for it tomorrow and play to their potential. I think we might sneak it by a couple of points. I’m going to miss this one the first one I’ve missed all year. Give them stick lads!
I’m travelling down in the morning to cork, will be an interesting drive as I’ll no doubt mull over the outings so far this year. Frustrating best describes how I feel as to how the games unfolded, we surly should have 10 points definitely on the board, only the Dublin match the exception. I think we’re a little healthier position than maybe we realise, should we have the 10 points chalked up we would be among the front runners for Sam and it only April. We would be burdened with that tag!! I do think we missed opertunities in giving players game time for the championship and that may have a huge impact later on. As everyone stated, Keane needed games to bring him up and to championship level, Alan Murphy must be wondering if bench cosy is as good as it gets when the least he deserves is a chance! Evan Regan looked sharpe in the first half V Kildare, landed a long range free twords the end only to be replaced when he looked likely to trouble Kildare again. I think centre back is a serious issue, not convinced by cunniffe or Vaughan on present form but no other options tried thus far. I’m not as confident about a win tomorrow as I was pre big Barry’s injury, he was looking sharper to date and I think his absence will be felt. I think we will stay up more so the results in other venues might do it but I do think we are more than capable of putting cork to the sword!!