JUST TWO DAYS out from their Connacht SFC semi-final against Leitrim, the Mayo squad are dealing with Covid-19 issues which could leave them without a number of players for Sunday’s game.
When contacted by The42 this morning, Mayo GAA did not indicate whether any members of James Horan’s squad had returned positive tests or were deemed close contacts of a confirmed case.
The game is still expected to go ahead, but it’s unclear at this stage how many players have been affected.
In a statement released this morning, the county board said: “Mayo GAA are currently working with the HSE on a number of Covid-19 related queries amongst members of the county senior football panel.
“Mayo GAA are following HSE guidelines and our senior team are continuing their preparation for Sunday’s Connacht Championship game versus Leitrim.”
Sligo were unable to field a team for last year’s provincial semi-final against Galway after a Covid outbreak in the squad.
However, All-Ireland finalists Mayo would expect to have the squad depth to deal with a number of absentees for the game against rank outsiders Leitrim.
Rob Hennelly, Lee Keegan, Kevin McLoughlin and Jordan Flynn, who all started the quarter-final win over Sligo, have dropped out of Horan’s starting team for Sunday’s game.
No bench has been named, so it’s unclear if their absences are due to Covid, injury or squad rotation.
Rory Byrne, Padraig O’Hora, Stephen Coen and Bryan Walsh all come into the side as Aidan O’Shea makes his 150th appearance for the Westerners.
The victors will face Galway in the Connacht final on 25 July.
Mayo (vs Leitrim)
1. Rory Byrne (Castlebar Mitchels)
2. Enda Hession (Garrymore), 3. Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites), 4. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber),
5. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), 6. Oisín Mullin (Kilmaine), 7. Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport)
8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), 9. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
10. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), 11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), 12. Bryan Walsh (Ballintubber)
13. Tommy Conroy (The Neale), 14. Darren McHale (Knockmore), 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
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