Mayo’s chief scorer Shane Boland will captain Mayo in their Christy Ring Cup final against Kildare at Croke Park tomorrow. Photo: David Farrell

Mayo senior hurling team announced for Christy Ring Cup final

Mayo manager Derek Walsh has named the same team and panel that defeated Derry last time out for this weekend's Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday).

The team is captained by Tooreen's Shane Boland, who hit 0-12 in a virtuoso performance against Derry last weekend, with Joe McManus and Eoin Delaney completing a formidable full-forward line.

The industrious Joe Mooney starts at centre-forward, with Adrian Phillips and the deadly accurate Sean Kenny on the wings.

The evergreen Keith Higgins and Daniel Huane continue at midfield after excelling against Derry, Sligo and London in recent weeks.

At the back, the Mayo defence has a teak-tough spine. Stephen Coyne lines out at full-back and Ger McManus at centre-back, with Gary Nolan and Paul Kirwan flanking Coyne in the full-back line and Mark Phillips and the outstanding David Kenny on the wings at half-back.

Goalkeeper Bobby Douglas has played every single game for Mayo in both league and championship this season and he rightfully starts again between the posts this Saturday in Croke Park.

Eight of the starting 15 this weekend also started in last year's Nicky Rackard Cup final victory over Tyrone, with the McManus brothers, Joe Mooney, Paul Kirwan, Mark Phillips, Eoin Delaney and Daniel Huane the newcomers on this occasion.

It is the first time ever that Mayo have reached the Christy Ring Cup final. The game is live on TG4, with radio commentary also available on Midwest Radio courtesy of Michael D. McAndrew and Frank Brown. Mayo GAA will also have live updates across all its social media channels on Saturday afternoon. Tipperary native Michael Kennedy has been appointed to referee the games, which throws in tomorrow (Saturday, May 21) at 5 p.m. in Croke Park. Tickets are available here.

The Mayo team in full is as follows: Bobby Douglas; Gary Nolan, Stephen Coyne, Paul Kirwan; Mark Phillips, Ger McManus, David Kenny; Keith Higgins, Daniel Huane; Sean Kenny, Joe Mooney, Adrian Phillips, Eoin Delaney, Joe McManus, Shane Boland.

On the subs' bench are: Barry Lane, Brian Hunt, Kenny Feeney, Patrick Lyons, Conal Hession, Darren Murray, Kealan Gallagher, Shane Crennigan, Danny Hill, Conor Murray and Eoghan Roe.

The members of the extended panel are: Aaron Ketterick, Jack Trench, James Gallagher, Padraig Mooney and Ronan Treacy.