Potential blow for Mayo as injury strikes on first night of training

Mayo's league and championship hopes may have suffered a blow following a potentially serious knee injury suffered by Aidan O'Shea at the first collective training session for the senior squad last night.

O'Shea (30) is expected to have to undergo a scan later this week to assess the extent of the damage when the swelling subsides.

If it turns out to be a cruciate ligament tear, it will most likely mean the end of his season before it has even begun.

Mayo returned to collective training at MacHale Park last night after restrictions on inter-county squads were eased on Monday.

O'Shea has played 58 consecutive championship matches for Mayo since 2012 and captained the county to a first provincial title in five years when lifting the Nestor Cup following the Connacht final against Galway last November. Mayo subsequently reached the All-Ireland final in December, in which they were beaten by Dublin.

The Breaffy man also helped his club reach the county final last year but again was on the losing side as Knockmore claimed victory in MacHale Park in September.

Depending on the severity of the injury, O'Shea could be in danger of missing both the inter-county and club season this year.