CONNACHT SFC SEMI-FINAL
Sunday: Mayo v Leitrim, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 3.30pm, (M Higgins, Fermanagh)
Latest from the medics and the management…Mayo boss James Horan has named three championship starting debutants as Kevin Keane and Lee Keegan are newcomers on the right flank of defence while Danny Geraghty is selected at midfield. Geraghty is drafted in for Jason Gibbons in one of three changes from the league final loss while corner-forwards Conor Mortimer and Michael Conroy also lose out. Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty are the pair handed starting berths there. Leitrim have made three changes from the side that overturned London at the quarter-final stage. Daniel Beck comes in for James Glancy at corner-back, Enda Williams takes the centre-back position with Fabian McMorrow moving to full-back in place of Ciaran Egan. Shane Moran lines out at midfield instead of Daniel Lowe.
MAYO SF: D Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); K Keane (Westport), G Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), K Higgins (Ballyhaunis); L Keegan (Westport), D Vaughan (Ballinrobe), C Boyle (Davitts); B Moran (Castlebar Mitchels), D Geraghty (Ballintubber); K McLoughlin (Knockmore), C O’Connor (Ballintubber), A Dillon (Ballintubber); A Freeman (Aghamore), A Moran (Ballaghadereen), J Doherty (Burrishoole).LEITRIM SF: C McCrann (Gortletteragh); D Beck, (Mohill), F McMorrow (Melvin Gaels), P Maguire (Glencar Manorhamilton); C Clarke (Drumkeerin), E Williams (Clonguish), W McKeon, (Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s); D Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton), S Moran (Ballinamore Sean O’ Heslin’s); P Brennan, (Melvins Gaels), E Mulligan (Melvin Gaels), P McGowan (St. Patrick’s Dromahair); R Cox (Annaduff), J Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton), A Croal (Glencar Manorhamilton).
Checking the odds…Not much doubt who’s tipped to win here. Mayo are available at a staggering 1/80 with Leitrim at 18/1. The handicap is Mayo (-11) at 11/10.
Clues from the form guide…It’s been a long eight weeks of inactivity for Mayo since they fell short in the league final against Cork. But in general the league was a qualified success as they continued to build on the progress made last year under James Horan. Leitrim needed all their wits to survive against London in the Connacht quarter-final but the trip across the water and the wretched weather conditions that day in Ruislip always ensured it would be an arduous task.
The game breakers are…Leitrim need to tighten up their full-back line which shipped 1-7 against London and that fact that they have made two changes there is indicative of how the management recognised that problem. In order to fashion an unlikely success they need to get Emlyn Mulligan on the ball in forward positions more as he was forced to come deep as he was starved of possession against London while James Glancy and Adrian Croal are best placed to assist him in the scoring stakes.
For Mayo it will be interesting to see how their three debutants adjust to the senior championship game, most notably Geraghty who is pitched into the midfield sector alongside Barry Moran as the influence of the O’Shea brothers is still missing. In a match like this the guile of Alan Dillon and Andy Moran in unlocking the defence is important while there are scores there for Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty to boost their confidence levels.
Gazing into the crystal ball…There’s a good reason as to why there’s such a disparity in the bookmakers odds. The fact that it’s the Division 1 finalists facing a team that finished fifth in Division 4 is revealing. Mayo are equipped with far better resources and could amass a significant score here as they progress to a final meeting with Sligo.
