McHale Park will get its first airing this season on Sunday when the All Ireland champions Tyrone come to town for the final round of the Allianz National Football League. Mayo will be looking to pick up where they left off against Galway in Tuam Stadium a fortnight ago, where a stunning second half performance saw John O’Mahony’s side overturn a six point half time deficit to squeeze past Galway by a single point and secure a one point win. The win leaves O’Mahony’s side in fourth place in the division one table on six points, equal on points with Mickey Harte’s side. A draw on Sunday would ensure both sides’ status in division one for next season, but a defeat coupled with a high scoring win by Dublin over an already relegated Westmeath and a win by Donegal over Derry could drag either side back into the bottom two of a very tight division one table.
Mayo’s ranks were boosted this week with the return of veterans James Nallen, David Heaney, and Aidan Higgins to their ranks ahead of the championship, but none of the three who lined out in a challenge game with Offaly last weekend is expected to feature on Sunday. Also due back soon is Keith Higgins who was taking some time off in Australia over the winter which will be a boost to the Mayo senior hurling side as they prepare for the Christy Ring Cup this summer. Alan Dillon who has had an injury affected league campaign so far is doubtful after he limped out of Ballintubber’s opening league clash with Kiltaine last weekend, while Barry Moran has only just returned to full training this week after being sidelined for a period of time.
Another concern for O’Mahony is the use of a number of u21 players who are part of his squad on Sunday with Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly’s side having an All Ireland semi-final only six days after this Sunday’s game against a yet to be decided Ulster champions in Pearse Park, Longford on Saturday week at 5pm. This Sunday’s game will see three sides of McHale Park open, with the new 10,000 seater stand still under construction ahead of its expected opening in time for this summer’s championship action. A crowd of around 5,000 is expected in the ground for the visit of the All Ireland champions who knocked Mayo out of last year’s All Ireland series in the last round of qualifiers in Croke Park by a point before they went on to win the competition. The last round of the league meeting between the two sides has become a bit of a tradition with last year’s final round of games pairing the two sides in Healy Park in Omagh, with Tyrone winning out by two points on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-13. In 2007 a 4-7 to 1-11 win for Mayo in the same venue put them into the league semi-final and a draw between the sides in McHale Park in 2006 also put Mayo into the semi-final. Throw in time for Sunday’s game is at 2.30pm.
Mayo ladies make their mark
The Mayo ladies’ senior football team navigated their way into the National League division one semi-final last weekend, thanks to a 3-12 to 1-7 win over Clare in Corraclare. Cora Staunton scored 2-5 for Mayo with Sinead Cafferkey chipping in with 1-1 of her own. The draw for the semi-final took place earlier this week with Mayo being paired with Laois and All Ireland champions Cork and Dublin in the other semi-final. On Sunday at 3pm the Mayo ladies’ minor team will be in Connacht championship action when they face Galway in the first round of the round robin competition.
