10 key points for Mayo supporters to consider ahead of Roscommon clash
HERE are 10 points for Mayo GAA supporters to consider before the start of the 2019 Allianz National League against Roscommon at Elverys MacHale Park on Saturday evening.
1. The selection of Paddy Durcan as captain of the team for Saturday night is a positive move.
2. Robbie Hennelly deserves his chance in goal following a successful FBD League campaign between the posts.
3. It is very hard to disagree with the six defenders chosen to start against the Rossies.
4. Selecting Donal Vaughan to partner Diarmuid O'Connor in midfield would not be my preferred choice. Seamie O'Shea would have been much stronger for this much tough encounter. I would also be hoping that Matthew Ruane will be given his chance to partner O'Connor in one or two of the league games.
5. Up front I am delighted to see both Brian Reape and Conor Diskin in the starting 15. Both these two players are exciting prospects, especially if they get the quality ball into to them that they will need.
6. I feel Evan Regan must be very happy to have got selected in order to redeem himself. While he has the talent, he has yet to show he is capable of producing the goods on the big stage.
7. I expect we might see Aidan O'Shea operating more at the edge of the big square. With Roscommon now opting for more defensive approach under new manager Anthony Cunningham, O'Shea might cause them a lot of trouble in and around the goals.
8. It will be interesting to see the bench James Horan and his selectors decide upon. I will be surprised not to see the likes of David Clarke, Michael Plunkett, James McCormack, Seamie O'Shea, Andy Moran and Fionn McDonagh to the fore in the list of substitutes?
9. While it will be a very tough game for Mayo I expect they will come out on top. A defeat for Mayo in this opening league game will make things a lot harder in order to get enough of points to keep their Division One status for next year?
10. Since James Horan took over for the second time as Mayo manager this was the first big game the county supporters pencilled in for attending. With Roscommon's big win over Galway last Sunday we can also see their supporters turning out in big numbers. As a result we should get between 12,000 to 15,000 showing up for this league opener.