Mayo will wrap up their whistle stop FBD League campaign on Sunday in Ballyhaunis when they face Roscommon in their third game in seven days. Following last Sunday’s defeat away to Leitrim, James Horan watched his side crush the challenge of a very poor GMIT side in Ballinrobe on Wednesday evening. There were some positives to take from the easy win according to the Ballintubber clubman. “There were a few good things, we were sluggish against Leitrim the last day and Leitrim punished us. I suppose we were a little bit better today and we’ll be a little bit better at training on Friday and next Sunday as we build up to the National League.”
Horan mixed things up in his side on Wednesday evening, one experiment in particular pleased him, but pointed out his side’s return from goal chances could have been better. “Lee Keegan at wing forward showed us that he’s a really complete player and can play anywhere and we gave a few new guys a run out. James Shaughnessy came on and did quite well. I’ll be bringing guys in and out for the FBD and Cathal Hallinan came back in tonight and did well, and Keith Rogers is settling in well into the team, so there are a few things out of today I’ll be quite happy with. Then we’d seven goal chances there and we got two, so some of the returns will have to be worked on, but those are the kind of things everyone enjoys working on.”
Sunday will also see Horan have a number of options available to him as players who were involved with their colleges in other provincial competitions before their elimination, become available for selection once again. “We’ll have Jason Doherty, Aidan O’Shea and Kevin McLoughlin as an option, and Cillian O’Connor is getting close to coming back. I suppose it’s starting to take shape, it’s taking a little bit slower than I like, but it’s coming around.”
With Mayo not able to make it into this year’s FBD final despite the result on Sunday, Horan will have a clear weekend with his side before they open their national league campaign against Kerry on Sunday, February 3, and he plans to put it to good use. “The way it fell, it probably will suit us, well we’ll make sure it does suit us so we’ll use it accordingly.”
Provisional league dates released
The Mayo GAA CCC have released the provisional dates for the Breaffy House Senior Football Leagues. The action in the top divisions will get under way provisionally on Sunday March 31, with round two on April 21, round three on May 5, round four on May 26, round five on the weekend of June 29 and 30, round six on the weekend of July 27 and 28, round seven on the weekend of August 17 and 18, round eight on the weekend of August 24 and 25, round nine on the weekend of September 7 and 8, round 10 on the weekend of September 28 and 29, and the final round on the weekend of October 5 and 6. The full provisional list of fixtures is available to download at www.sportsmanager.ie/uploaded/21/complete_2013_mayo_gaa_league_fixtures pdf
