1996/99
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MAYO TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH WIN OVER CARLOW
GAA
4 February 1998
GAA John Melvin
Having dropped a point to Galway, and taken a brace from both Kilkenny and Fermanagh, Mayo footballers will be hoping to get back on the league track on Sunday (Charlestown 2-30) when they clash with Carlow in this re-fixed game in section A of the Church and General National Football League.
Mayo are in a strong position to qualify sitting joint second on five points with Laois behind leaders Louth who are on six.
The crunch tie is likely to be Mayo's clash away to louth on March Ist, while they have Laois at Crossmolina in the final game on March 15th and their next outing, after Sunday, is Feb 15th when they clash with Leitrim at Ballina.
Problems between Carlow County Board and the Supporters club led to the resignation of manager Bobby Millar before Christmas.
It appears that the difficulties have been sorted out following the appointment of former Tipperary manager, Paddy Morrissey, as the new manager.
Carlow, who are without a point in the league, will be coming to Charlestown anxious to put their problems behind them and starting picking up badly needed points in this very competitive section which sees Fermanagh and Kilkenny also anchored on the bottom without any points while Louth are unbeaten on six points, with Laois and Mayo tied on 5 each and Galway still very much in the frame on four points having drawn two of their games.
Although there are a few injury worries, notably David Heaney and David Brady, Mayo should be in a confident mood to take both these points from this eagerly awaited fixture at Charlestown. A win will put them on top of the table as they prepare for the match with Laois on Feb 15th.
The side is in good shape at the moment and a lot of psychical work is being done at the Sportlann gym in Castlebar.
Mayo's big representation on the Connaught team and that extra game on Sunday against Ulster last Sunday, in Clones will also have tuned further Peter Burke, Pat Fallon, Fergal Costello, Kenneth Mortimer, James Nallen, Maurice Sheridan and Colm McManamon all of whom represented their province with distinction.
Along with a good workout, and indeed win, over Tyrone last Saturday, Mayo had a big representation on the Railway Cup team in both the drawn and re-played encounter, and Mayo players were very much to the fore in Sunday's exciting clash with Ulster at Clones.
However, the more immediate concern for manager John Maughan is the May 24th deadline with Galway in what is billed as being the key tie in the Connaught championship.
Battles
He will be hoping that both Kevin Cahill and Kevin O'Neill win their individual battles with fitness.
Neither will be considered for competitive games for some weeks but both are reported to be making steady progress.
David Brady, who ws injured in the drawn game while playing for Connaught is expected to be fit for Sunday's tie. He didn't tog for Connaught last Sunday to allow his damaged ankle time to heal.
David Heaney also picked up a knock in Saturday's challenge game against Tyrone at McHale Park. The swinford man teamed up with Pat Fallon at midfield int hat game but he is expected to be okay for Sunday and is likely to be back in the half back line.
Ciaran McDonald will not be considered for a place for Sunday as he has been unable to attend training in recent week's due to work commitments while Diarmuid Byrne is also ruled out for Sunday due to a back injury.
With the basketball pressure on Liam McHale eased considerably, the Ballina man is likely to be called up for duty at some stage while Ray Dempsey is another player who is expected to be named int he attack.
I expect Pat Holmes to continue to operate as a stand-in full back where he has done quite well in all Mayo's three pre-Christmas outings.
Kenneth Mortimer, Fergal Costello, John Casey, Heaney if fit, Noel Connelly along with James Nallen are the backs Maughan will be looking towards to keep tabs on players like Garavan Ware and Carlow top gun, Colm Hayden.
Pat Fallon, who put in much improved showing with Connaught last week is expected to team up with David Brady at midfield. with Colm McMenamon, another Mayo player to impress in the Connaught jersey along with Maurice Sheridan and , James Horan, who scored six excellent points against Tyrone will be starting while Liam McHale, David Tiernan along with Sean Carey and Declan Sweeney are contenders for places in the attack which still remains Mayo's major problem area.
Mayo impress
Mayo hammered out an impress 1-15 to 1-8 win over a strong Tyrone side in a senior challenge match at McHale Park on Saturday afternoon.
However, it was not without a price as David Heaney picked up an injury to his hip but it is ot thought to be too serious and he is expected to play in Sunday's NFL tie against Callow.
Mayo's most impressive sector was their half forward lien of Colm McManamon, james Horan, who scored 0-6 and Maurice Sheridan.
Heaney and Pat Fallon also played well at midfield with Pat Holmes, Kenneth Mortimer, James Nallen and Noel Connelly doing very well in the back line.
Mayo: P. Burke, K. Mortimer, P. Holmes, R. Connelly, J. Casey, J. Nallen, N. Connelly, P. Fallon, D. Heaney, M. Sheridan, J. Horan, Co. McMenamon, D. Sweeney, R. Dempsey, S. Carey. Subs: used K. Beirne, J. Madden, G. Morley, D. Tiernan, D. Kearney (Neale).
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1998
