Search Results for 'Adrian Leonard'

It is back to the cut and thrust of championship football for the final four sides in both the intermediate and junior championship this weekend. The action gets under way on Saturday evening with a junior championship double header in Mayo GAA headquarters, and Ardnaree and Lahardane meeting in the first semi-final at 5pm, with Cill Chomain and Louisburgh meeting in the second game at 6.30pm.

One week after James Horan’s appointment as Mayo senior manager, I think it is fair to say that his appointment, and that of his back room team, has been warmly received by Mayo supporters. The immediate objection from some quarters might be that he is without senior inter county experience. In the current situation in which we find ourselves, I doubt that the GAA public in Mayo regard inexperience as an insurmountable issue after the summer we have just had. Horan will bring a fresh approach to proceedings, something that is needed right now. The players will trust and respect him. The younger players will remember his terrific talents on the field and will be looking forward to new training methods and a new mantra. I hear that no member of the new management team has travelled with the footballers to New York for this Sunday’s FBD final. I think that is a smart move. This weekend’s match in the Big Apple can best be described as a fun game with nothing of any significance at stake. A number of players playing out there this weekend will not be part of the new squad, and with a type of party atmosphere circulating about the place, it is best that a new manager meets his panel of players in a different environment.

John O'Mahony named his squad for the championship on Monday, there were no major surprises in the 30 men named, with Belmullet's Billy Joe Padden the only man who wasn't involved in action so far this year coming back into contention. O'Mahony now has 33 days to get his team ready for Sligo in the Connacht championship opener.