The Mayo Ladies have found themselves back in the headlines this week for reasons off, rather than on the field.
The news that a large group of players and some of the management team have walked away from the panel, has been the hot topic of discussion all week, with neither the players nor the management as of yet explaining fully what the issues are.
The only official communication from the players who left the panel came through the Womens Gaelic Players Association (WGPA ) on Tuesday who issued a brief statement noting "We have stepped away from the Mayo panel for player welfare issues that are personal and sensitive to the players involved. Out of respect for the girls playing at the weekend and ourselves, we will not be commenting further. We wish the Mayo team well in their game on Saturday."
The WGPA concluded the statement with an appeal that speculation on the matter comes to an end and that all players are supported on and off the field and adding that they would continue to work with everyone involved individually and collectively in the best interests of Mayo Ladies Football.
Mayo manager Peter Leahy has indicated he will speak on the matter after tomorrow afternoon's (Saturday, July 14 ) championship clash with Cavan which takes place in Clones at 2.15pm and is live on TG4.
Leahy named his team for the clash on Thursday morning with five changes to the side that started the Connacht final against Galway three weeks ago and lost out to the Tribeswomen.
Out of the starting line-up for that game have gone goalkeeper Aisling Tarpey, team captain Sarah Tierney, Doireann Hughes, Fiona McHale and Cora Staunton, with Nicola O'Malley, Norin Moran, Dayna Finn, Sarah Mulvihill and Sorcha Murphy all coming into the starting 15.
Leahy can still call on five of his six starting forwards from that game, with Niamh and Grace Kelly, Sarah Rowe, Sinead Cafferkey and Fiona Doherty all selected to start. In the middle of the park Westport's Norin Moran and Kiltimagh's Dayna Flynn have been handed the number eight and nine shirts - with Clodagh McMananon moving back to the centre back position to be flanked on either side by Rachel Kearns and Kathryn Sullivan.
Cavan head into the game on the back of being eliminated from the Ulster championship at the semi-final stage going down by three points on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-14. In the league this year they reached the division two league final losing narrowly to Tipperary at the end of a dramatic contest on a score of 0-21 to 3-11
