CATHAL FREEMAN IS the only newcomer to the Mayo team for tomorrow’s Division 1 clash with Kerry.
The Allianz Football League game in Castlebar sees last year’s All-Ireland finalists entertain the Kingdom.
And Freeman, from the Aghamore club, gets the nod to start at left half-forward.
Freeman has not been involved with Mayo in the FBD League as he featured for NUI Galway, who will be utilising him next Tuesday in the Sigerson Cup against Dublin IT.
Freeman kicked 0-4 in the 2008 drawn All-Ireland minor final against Tyrone with teammates tomorrow Shane McHale and Aidan O’Shea also involved in that Mayo team.
Only nine of the Mayo side that started in last September’s All-Ireland final loss to Donegal are in the starting fifteen for tomorrow’s game. Injuries rule out Alan Dillon and Cillian O’Connor but Ger Cafferkey has shrugged off a minor muscle injury to start at full-back.
The newcomers to the team include the defensive trio of Shane McHale, Tom Cunniffe and Chris Barrett along with Freeman in attack. Seamus O’Shea and Richie Feeney who came on as substitutes in that loss to Donegal both start tomorrow.
O’Shea partners his brother Aidan at midfield while Feeney is a notable inclusion at wing-forward rather than his customary half-back role. Similarly Lee Keegan moves from half-back to wing-forward while Kevin McLoughlin has been named in the full-forward line.
MAYO: David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Shane McHale (Knockmore), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Chris Barrett (Belmullet); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Lee Keegan (Westport), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Cathal Freeman (Aghamore); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Michael Conroy (Davitts).
