New Mayo manager Derek Walsh could not have asked for a better start to the new season.
With two wins from their opening two league games, Mayo sit in second place in the division 2B table just behind league leaders Down on scoring difference at the moment.
It took Mayo until the final round of the league last year before they picked up their first win of the year against Roscommon - so far this season Mayo have doubled that win with victories over Donegal and Armagh.
Along the way in those two games Mayo have really found their scoring touch, hitting 2-16 in Ballina against Donegal and 3-15 on the road against the Orchard County men.
The scoring form from their two games to date from Kenny Feeney (1-7 ), Keith Higgins (2-5 ), Shane Boland (0-8 ), and Sean Regan (1-4 ) is something that will have pleased the new Mayo boss.
On Sunday they take on a Derry side who have yet to pick up any points from their opening two games, going down to fellow Ulster sides Down and Donegal.
However it has to be taken into consideration that Derry would have been playing without any of their Slaughtneil contingent who were involved in All Ireland club hurling championship action up to last weekend, and their footballers are also still to play at the semi-final stage of that competition.
A win on Sunday would be a massive boost to Mayo with games against the two big sides in the division Down and Wicklow coming up after this one as they ramp up their preparations for the new look Christy Ring Cup where they will be battling out in a group with Kildare, Wicklow, and Roscommon in early summer.
