Mayo name strong team for Donegal test in Nicky Rackard Cup

Mayo senior hurling manager Derek Walsh has named a very strong team for their opening Nicky Rackard Cup clash against Donegal this weekend.

Oisin Greally and Pearse McCrann make their championship debuts, the former at corner-forward and the latter at centre half-back, with Keith Higgins, the captain, named at centre half-forward.

Sean Regan partners Sean Kenny in a new-look midfield, with Brian Hunt getting the nod on the edge on the small square.

Mayo’s group will be played in a round robin format and each team will have one home and one away game, with the top two teams qualifying for the semi-finals and the third placed team playing in the quarterfinal. The winner of the Nicky Rackard Cup will be promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for 2022.

Donegal defeated Mayo 3-18 to 0-21 in last year's final at Croke Park, and also got the better of the Green and Red by 4-18 to 0-13 earlier this year in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2B.

The game tomorrow (Saturday) takes place in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, with a start time of 2.30 p.m.

The Mayo starting 15 is: Bobby Douglas; Gary Nolan, Michael Morely, Daniel Haune; Conor Henry, Pearse McCrann, David Kenny; Sean Regan, Sean Kenny; Adrian Philips, Keith Higgins, Shane Boland; Jason Coyne, Brian Hunt, Oisin Greally.