At least half a dozen Mayo players were nursing injuries this week according to Mayo manager James Horan. Speaking at the press night in the lead up to next week’s semi-final showdown, Horan confirmed that Trevor Mortimer, David Clarke, Aidan and Seamus O’Shea, Mark Ronaldson and Peadar Gardiner were all nursing knocks at the moment.
With both Peadar Gardiner and Mark Ronaldson picking up well reported injuries in action for their respective clubs last weekend Horan said: “Peader picked up a hamstring injury against Ballintubber but he’s made good progress since then and we’d be confident.” On the Shrule Glencorrib attacker Horan was equally positive: “Mark did some of the warm ups but he was concussed at the weekend and he’ll need another few days to make sure he’s OK.”
Horan also said that all the players in the extended panel are still in contention for a place in the match day 26 for next weekend, and a number of players showed very well in last weekend’s club championship action and in training and have put themselves in a position for the game day squad come the Kerry game. “A couple of guys, yeah, and even at training tonight some of the panel members and those who didn’t make the game day 26 last time put their hands up. Lee Keegan did very well, a couple of other guys, Trevor Howley played well for Knockmore, Eoghan Reilly did well with Castlebar, so a lot of those guys are pushing and the likes of Jason Gibbons are pushing hard to make the match day 26.” The Ballintubber man also ruled out the chance of drafting in any extra players before the Kerry game. “We’re set up and fairly solid where we are. We’re always looking but we’re two weeks out from a semi final so we’ll stick with what we have got.”
Club championship last eight draw next Monday
Following the last round of action in both the Mayo SFC and IFC last weekend the draw for the last eight of both competitions will take place this Monday night at 9.30pm in McHale Park, Castlebar. The last eight in both grades will be seeded with the group winners being kept apart at this stage. In the senior pot in the winners seeds will be Ballintubber, Knockmore, Castlebar and Ballina. The runners up pot will involove Crossmolina, Breaffy, Ballaghaderreen, and Shrule Glencorrib.
In the intermediate championship Burrishoole, Davitts, Cill Chomain and Ballyhaunis are all in the table toppers’ pot with Kilmaine, Hollymount/Carramore, Belmullet and Parke in the second place pot. Sides which have already met in the group stages cannot meet again in the last eight. The CCC of the Mayo GAA Board has fixed the quarter finals to take place in the competitions on the weekend of August 27/28. Which is the weekend after the All Ireland semi-final.
Mayo ladies look to topple the Kingdom
Saturday will see Mayo and Kerry clash in a do or die championship game, but two weeks out from the men’s All Ireland semi-final it is the Mayo ladies senior team who will be looking to run over the Kingdom. At 4.15pm in Birr tomorrow afternoon, Jason Tanniane’s side will be looking to pick up their third win on the trot and book themselves a place in the All Ireland semi-final.
So far this year Mayo have put a terrible league campaign behind them to see off the challenge of both Sligo in the Connacht semi final and Galway in the provincial decider, where they ran out comprehensive 5-11 to 2-15 winners in Tuam Stadium at the start of July. Tomorrow in the Offaly venue the defeated Munster finalists Kerry stand in their way of a place in the last four and a shot at getting back to an All Ireland final for the first time since 2007. Kerry took on Donegal in the qualifiers last weekend in the same venue as this weekend’s game and ran out 2-10 to 0-5 winners and will pose a stern test for Mayo. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was the scorer in chief for her side, going home with a personal tally of 1-3 for the day with Louise Galvin hitting 1-1. While Kerry have plenty of scoring threat to trouble the Mayo defence, the Mayo attack proved to be as potent as ever in the Connacht final. The peerless Cora Staunton bagged 2-6 for herself as she continues to show the class which has made her one of the stand out players in the ladies game over the past number of years. Fiona McHale chipped in with a goal and Lisa Cafferkey with three points. Mayo can also count on the experience of the likes of Yvonne Byrne in goal, Claire Egan in the middle of the field alongside Noelle Tierney, and Denise McDonagh in defence to bring along some of the more inexperienced players who have been blended into the side this year by Tanniane since he took over the job. If you cannot make it to Birr tomorrow, the game will be broadcast live by TG4 with throw in at 4.15pm.
