Even allowing for the few extra pounds picked up over the Christmas, there was an urgency and intensity in both the Mayo trial games played at the top pitch in McHale Park on Sunday morning. It was the second series of trials organised by Mayo manager James Horan, who has been trawling through the clubs in his effort to put a panel together ahead of the national football league which opens in February when Mayo meet beaten All-Ireland finalists Down, a game now likely to be played under floodlights at McHale Park.

In the meantime, Horan and his selectors will open their hand in Ballinamore this Sunday at 2 p.m. in the first round of the FBD league where a number of new faces, and undoubtedly some old ones too, are likely to feature.
While Mayo are the holders of the FBD league title, their only reward during 2010, the competition will undoubtedly be used to run the rule over a number of aspiring players who have shown up in the recent trial games. However, it is likely to be another month before we have an idea of the panel Horan will be looking towards as he faces his first test as manager in 2011.

The likelihood, too, is that some of last year's panel will be discarded as Horan goes for fresher and younger legs, but with four of the seven national league games at home, Mayo will be hoping to do reasonably well when they face what is likely to be much more seasoned opposition such as Cork, Kerry, Down, Armagh, Monaghan, Galway and Dublin in what is a tough division.

It could be a no-win situation for the manager in his first year who, while anxious to win games, will be forced to gamble and experiment in his efforts to solve a number of deficiencies which still remain in the key positions in a team which crashed spectacularly to Longford when negotiating the backdoor of the championship last year, although, they did reach the league final.

Over 70 players in all have been put through the hoops since Horan took over as manager in December and the last of the test games saw the Reds and the Greens clash in two games on Sunday.
While the liberal refereeing of Denis Harrington meant that not all fouls were called, there was sufficient evidence to suggest there will be a number of new players coming on board while some familiar faces may not be around, although the manager was not ruling anyone in or out at this stage.
A panel will be drawn up for the FBD league and then the national league panel will be decided upon, but a number of new names are clearly emerging given the feedback coming from the recent trial games.

Eyecatching

Greens 2-13
Reds 0-13

The first of the trial games at the top pitch at McHale Park lacked the intensity of the second but it was evident a number of players were pushing hard to impress the management team.

There were very strong showings from the Castlebar Mitchels contingent with eye-catching performances from the Feeney brothers, Alan and Richie, while Eoghan Reilly and Donal Newcombe showed up well.
Aiden Campbell's return to the Mayo squad continues to be a major talking point and the Swinford player looks in top shape, nailing 1-1, while Burrishoole's Jason Doherty also looked lively, contributing 1-2.
James Kilcullen from Ballaghaderreen was another to put in an eye-catching performance around the middle of the field, Ballintubber's Jason Gibbons also doing quite well in this department.

Scorers for Greens: Jason Doherty 1-2, Enda Varley 0-4, Aidan Campbell 1-1, Cillian O'Connor and Andrew Farrell 0-2 each, Michael Nestor and James Kilcullen 0-1 each.
Scorers for Reds: Ian Rowland and Aidan Kilcoyne 0-3 each, Brian Benson and Neil Douglas 0-2 each, Austin O'Malley, Mark Ronaldson and Damien Munnelly 0-1 each.
Greens: David Clarke; Eoghan O'Reilly, Alan Feeney, Shane McHale; Chris Barrett, Michael Nestor, Tom Cunniffe; James Kilcullen, Jason Gibbons; Aidan Campbell, Cillian O'Connor, Andrew Farrell; Enda Varley, Jason Doherty, Kevin Dolan.
Subs used: Donal Newcombe, Kevin Keane, James Burke.
Reds: Kenneth O'Malley; Richie Feeney, David Killeen, Cathal Hallinan; Peadar Gardiner, Lee Keegan, Ruaidhri O'Connor; Barry Moran, James Moran; Ian Rowland, Austin O'Malley, Aidan Kilcoyne; Mark Ronaldson, Brian Benson, Damien Munnelly.
Subs used: Neil Douglas, James McAndrew, Dermot O'Connor, Dermot Geraghty.

Impressive

Reds 2-11
Greens 0-6

The second game was a 13-a-side affair between two well matched teams. In the end two well taken goals by Kiltimagh's Liam Lydon decided the issue.

There were some strong defensive performances on both sides, Ronan Rochford (Crossmolina), Owen Hughes (Knockmore), Stephen McCarron (Ardnaree) and Ollie Feeney (Islandeady) very prominent.
Paraic O'Connor, Liam Lydon and Andy Moran produced most of the scores for the Greens, while for a weaker Reds side the likes of John Varley, Kieran Conroy, Vinnie Feeney and Peter Collins put in some impressive work but it would be fair to say both teams were trying.

Scorers for Greens: Liam Lydon 2-2, Padraig O'Connor and Andy Moran 0-3 each, Ronan Doherty 0-2, Oisin Quinn 0-1.
Scorers for Reds: Vinny Feeney and Niall Prenty 0-2 each, Ronan McNamara and Eoin McCormack 0-1 each.
Greens: Ciaran Naughton; Ronan Rochford, David Caffrey; Oisin Quinn, Eoin Hughes, Kieran Barrett; John Varley, Kieran Conroy; Shane Forde, Ronan Doherty, Andy Moran; Liam Lydon, Padraig O'Connor.
Subs used: Sean Prendergast, Gearoid O'Dea.
Reds: Robert Hennelly; Colm English, Ollie Feeney; Anthony Ruddy, Stephen McCarron, Shane Timlin; Peter Collins, Ronan McGarrity; Levi Tierney, Ronan McNamara, Vinny Feeney; Niall Prenty, Mikey Sweeney.
Subs used: Seamus Dolan, Eoin McCormack, Padraic McDonagh.
Referee: Denis Harrington (Tourmakeady).