Mayo lose key defender to injury for qualifiers

Mayo have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers on the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Talented Ballintubber defender Michael Plunkett, who played in the half-back line in the one-point defeat to Galway in the Connacht SFC quarterfinal on April 23, is ruled out of action.

He incurred a serious leg injury during a squad training match, the extent of which has not been fully revealed.

The Connaught Telegraph has also learned that influential attacker Ryan O'Donoghue is facing an uphill battle to be fit for the June encounter due to his recent injury setback.

There are also injury concerns relating to Robert Hennelly, Jordan Flynn, Oísin Mullin and James Carr.

The squad has been involved in a challenge match this weekend as preparations for the qualifiers intensifies.

The draw for the first round of the qualifiers will be made on RTÉ Radio One around 8.40 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The other teams in the draw with Mayo are Armagh, Clare, Cork, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Tyrone.

Mayo supporters are hoping for a home draw but they will still travel in big numbers to whatever away venue in which their team is in action.