Cillian O'Connor returns to Mayo team for Galway clash

Mercurial forward Cillian O'Connor returns to the Mayo starting team for Sunday's Connacht championship opener against Galway in Hasting's Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

The Ballintubber forward has been out since the summer of 2021 with an Achilles injury but was introduced as a second-half substitute in Mayo's last competitive outing, the Division 1 league final against Kerry in Croke Park.

O'Connor is one of four changes James Horan has made to the side that lost that league final. In defence, Oisin Mullen replaces Rory Brickenden at full-back, with Eoghan McLaughlin named at wing-back in place of Enda Hession.

The other change is up front, where Kevin McLoughlin comes into the team at wing forward in place of Jack Carney.

There are positional switches too. Lee Keegan and Padraig O'Hora now flank Mullin in the full-back line. with Michael Plunkett named at centre-back as McLaughlin and team captain Stephen Coen occupy the wing-back positions.

Aidan O'Shea moves to midfield from centre-forward to replace the injured Jordan Flynn and will now partner his club-mate Matthew Ruane.

Alongside McLoughlin on the half-forward line are Ryan O'Donoghue, who switches from corner-forward, and Conor Loftus on the other wing.

With O'Connor on the full-forward line are Jason Doherty on the edge of the square and James Carr in the other corner.

Enda Hession, Rory Brickenden, Diarmuid O'Connor, Jack Carney and Aiden Orme are all named on the bench.

The game has a 4 p.m. throw-in time at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this Sunday (April 24), with Meath native David Coldrick in charge of the whistle. This game is live on RTÉ 2 and there's live commentary on Midwest Radio with Michael D. McAndrew and Martin Carney.

The Mayo team in full is as follows: Rory Byrne; Lee Keegan, Oisín Mullin, Padraig O’Hora; Stephen Coen, Michael Plunkett; Eoghan McLaughlin; Aidan O’Shea, Matthew Ruane; Kevin McLoughlin, Ryan O’Donoghue, Conor Loftus; James Carr, Jason Doherty, Cillian O'Connor.

The subs are: Colm Reape, Enda Hession, Rory Brickenden, David McBrien, Conor O’Shea, Fergal Boland, Darren McHale, Aiden Orme, Darren Coen, Diarmuid O'Connor, Jack Carney.