Mayo team shows three changes for Donegal test
Mayo senior football manager Kevin McStay has made three changes from the team that started against Roscommon last time out for Sunday's round six Allianz National Football League game against Donegal on Sunday.
Colm Reape returns between the posts in place of Rory Byrne, with Aidan O'Shea and Ryan O'Donoghue named to start ahead of Cillian O'Connor and Tommy Conroy respectively.
The manager has named the same six backs that started against Roscommon, though Paddy Durcan and Sam Callinan have reverted to their more regular positions. Durcan is named at wing-back alongside Conor Loftus and Stephen Coen, with Callinan now at corner-back beside David McBrien and Jack Coyne.
Diarmuid O'Connor and Matthew Ruane continue at midfield, with Jordan Flynn, Jack Carney and Fionn McDonagh named in the half-forward line.
O'Shea and O'Donoghue return to the full-forward line, with James Carr leading the attack from the edge of the square.
Diarmuid O'Connor will make his 100th appearance for Mayo on Sunday having played 56 championship and 43 league games to date. The Ballintubber man made his debut against Kildare in 2014 and has amassed 13-64 during this time (6-35 in the league and 7-29 in the championship). O'Connor won an All-Ireland minor football medal with Mayo in 2013 and an All-Ireland Under 21 football medal in 2016. He collected the GAA Young Footballer of the Year award on two occasions (2015 and 2016), and also won a National Football League title with Mayo in 2019.
Sean Hurson, who refereed last year's All-Ireland football final, will officiate at the game on Sunday, which will throw in at 3.45 p.m. in Ballybofey. The game is live on TG4 and also Midwest Radio, with Michael D. McAndrew and Colm Boyle on commentary. Mayo GAA will have live updates across all social media. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/gaa.
The Mayo starting starting 15 in full for Sunday's game against Donegal is as follows: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Sam Callinan; Stephen Coen, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan; Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O'Connor; Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue.