It’s a sort of homecoming on Saturday evening for Mayo manager James Horan and his captain Alan Dillon. Mayo will take on Offaly in their last challenge game ahead of the championship throw in on Sunday fortnight in Ruislip against London. The challenge game has been organised to mark the official opening of the new €1 million development by Ballintubber GAA Club which has redeveloped the pitch and installed an Astroturf pitch along with redevelopment of the resource centre. Mayo will face down against Offaly at 5pm, and the game will be proceeded by the Horan Cup final between Ballintubber and Kilcock from Kildare at 2pm. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, is expected to be on hand to perform the official opening at 4pm.
With this being the last confirmed challenge game ahead of the meeting with London at the end of the month, James Horan will be expected to name a strong side for the clash as a number of players battle it out for a place in the starting 15. Players like Trevor Mortimer, Dermot Geraghty and David Gavin who have been training with Mayo will be expected to feature in the side along with the likes of Donal Vaughan and Trevor Howley and captain Alan Dillon who are all coming back from injures.
Kelly’s men book final sport
John Kelly’s Mayo junior side have booked their place in the Connacht Junior Football Championship final next month. Mayo will be facing off against the current Connacht and All Ireland champions Sligo in the provincial encounter. Mayo managed to see off the challenge of Roscommon by a solitary point in Ballyhaunis last week, winning out on a score of 0-13 to 1-9 with Swinford’s Colin Dempsey the main marksman kicking five points in the contest. The game ended on a sour note though with Ballycastle’s Michael Forde having to go off with a suspected dislocated shoulder, it will come as a blow to Kelly and his plans for the final, and to the player himself who had recently been training with the Mayo senior team also.
