GAA Focus 15 May 1996
By John Melvin
Injuries mount as championship deadline draws nearer
Mayo's injury worries continue to mount as the championship deadline with
London approaches with a number of key players involved in a race against
the clock to be fit in time for the June 2nd clash in Ruislip.
Mayo are fortunate that it is the lowly rated London side they will opening
their bid to retrieve the Connaught title, as they could be without players
for their overseas assignment. Liam McHale, who picked up a hand injury
while playing for Ballina in a league match at the weekend, John Casey and
Tom Reilly are still out with ankle injuries and will be fighting a battle
against time to be ready for London.
Noel Connelly, Fergal Costello, Ardel Jennings, Anthony Finnerty, Kevin
O'Neill, Ronan Golding and Diarmuid Byrne are all listed as injured and none
of them were involved in Mayo's senior challenge with Laois on Sunday which
saw Mayo put in a winning performance of 1-16 to 0-10.
With players committed to club demands to turn out for league matches again next week-end, Mayo manager John Maughan will be hoping that he does not receive any further bad news this weekend which would add to his long list of injury problems.
Maughan has been putting the team through some tough training sessions and they are down to play Louth next weekend in a senior challenge game. Mayo had an impressive win over Laos in a game which saw three newcomers brought in-Knockmore's Declan Sweeney, who lined out at full forward and Paul McGarry, brother of Anthony, who came on as a substitute for Michael Gardiner and Crossmolina's Pat McAndrew who stood in for the injured team captain, Noel Connelly.
The performance of the Mayo attack brought a welcome boost with James Horan netting 1-3 and Maurice Sheridan showing he has lost none of his dead-ball kicking ability with five points from frees and one from play.
There was a good showing too from midfield partnership Pat Fallon and David Brady, while Garry Ruane put in a solid hour at corner back.
The Mayo team was: John Madden, Kenneth Mortimer, Kevin Cahill, Garry Ruane, Pat Holmes, James Nallen, Pat McAndrew, Pat Fallon (0-1); David Brady (0-1); James Horan (1-3); Ray Dempsey (0-2); James Gardiner (0-1); David Nestor (0-2); David Sweeney, Maurice Sheridan (0-6). Subs: Paul McGarry for Gardiner. A. Finnerty for Nestor.
Sligo shock Galway
Sligo minors caused a the biggest shock in a long time in the Connaught minor championship preliminary round when they knocked out the holders Galway on Saturday night. The final score was 2-11 to 1-8.
Mayo and Galway in junior final
Mayo and Galway will clash in the Connaught Junior Final at Tuam on Thursday evening.Mayo, the all Ireland and Connaught champions, will be able to call on a number of players who did not play senior championship football last year. Manager Billy Fitzpatrick will have the pick of a very strong panel.
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
