GAA Focus on London/Mayo 29 May 1996
Connaught Football Championship
London always live in hope of a shock
By John Melvin
Anything other than a Mayo win would be regarded as a major championship shock, even a catastrophe if you come from Mayo, but sources in London believe they are very much in with a shout when they play Mayo at Ruislip on Sunday.
What has given encouragement to London is the number of injuries Mayo have.Traditionally these matches tend to stick to a pattern. Mayo will most likely be pushed hard for the first half, but the level of fitness is likely to come into play and I expect they will win in a canter in the end.
However, London have been training hard and the boost provided by taking such a scalp as Mayo's, would give many Irish exiles renewed hope, that some day London would actually be taken as serious contenders for a Connaught title. That is not how the exiles might view it but it is a fact. That may take a little longer and lot harder work than is currently being put in. But they did have their moment when they beat Leitrim in a re-play some years ago to get over the first round of the championship.
But, in fairness, that was at a time when everyone was beating Leitrim, but by heck that has changed a lot since. And they are always living in hope that they can pull off another surprise result. They have a handful of quite good players but overall they would find it difficult to match Mayo in experience or fitness levels.
In goals will be former Tyrone minor John Collins while Joe Darcy, brother of Leitrim player, Declan, is one of their key men in defence as is Armagh man Barry McDonagh.
They have a giant of a man at midfield in Mick Hesnan from Monaghan while their top gun up front is former Clare minor Sean Hehir, Aiden Creamer from Leitrim and Sean McFGrellis from Derry who is likely to be named art full forward.
According to London P.R.O. Gerry Daly they have put in a god deal of work and are always confident of causing an upset.
"We have a good club championship with twelve teams involved and the standard at club level si reasonably good", he said.
With Kerry man Pat Griffin managing the side and Peter Kiernan from Leitrim
doing the coaching no effort has been spared to ensure the team will give
Mayo a run for their money.
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
