Changes for Mayo heading into final league game

The Mayo team to face Monaghan in the final round of the Allianz National Football League tomorrow (Sunday) shows plenty of changes.

Mayo manager Kevin McStay and his selectors have made eight in total to the team that lined out against Derry last Sunday.

Players coming into this week's team are Rory Byrne, Paddy Durcan, Michael Plunkett, David McBrien, Darren McHale, Frank Irwin, Cillian O'Connor and Paul Towey.

They replace Colm Reape, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession, Stephen Coen, Bob Tuohy, Fergal Boland, Jordan Flynn and Jack Carney.

Aidan O'Shea will equal Andy Moran's record of 185 appearances for Mayo in tomorrow's game, which will be the 21st meeting between the counties in the league, with the first being a 1981 clash in Monaghan that Mayo won on a 2-9 to 1-7 scoreline.

Of the previous 20 meetings, Mayo have won 13 and Monaghan six, with just one draw, the 1985 meeting in Castlebar. Eleven of the games have been played at Monaghan venues and eight in Mayo, while the 1986 semi-final meeting – which Monaghan won by 0-10 to 1-6 – was played in Croke Park.

Five different Monaghan venues have hosted league meetings between the counties: Clones (five), Clontibret (two), Scotstown (two), Monaghan (one) and Inniskeen (one), with Mayo's home games having been played in Castlebar (seven) and Ballina (one).

Despite being regular league opponents in recent times, Mayo and Monaghan have only ever met once in the championship, and that was as recently as 2022, when Mayo triumphed 1-13 to 0-12 in Castlebar.

Fermanagh native Niall Cullen has been confirmed as the referee for Sunday's game, which throws in at 1.45 p.m. in Clones. Midwest Radio will have live commentary from Michael D. McAndrew and Mark Ronaldson, while Mayo GAA will have live updates across all social media platforms. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Mayo team is as follows: Rory Byrne; Aaron McDonnell, Rory Brickenden, Sam Callinan; Paddy Durcan, David McBrien, Michael Plunkett; Matthew Ruane, Aidan O'Shea; Darren McHale, Ryan O'Donoghue, Frank Irwin; Tommy Conroy, Cillian O'Connor, Paul Towey.