Galway aim to put record right against Mayo

JOHN O’MAHONY hopes to salvage something from a season that has gone horribly wrong when he takes Galway’s U-21 footballers to Castlebar tonight to play Mayo in the Connacht final.

O'Mahony, who won't name his team until later today, will have five seniors available Joe Bergin, Kieran Fitzgerald, Michael Comer, Derry O'Brien and Mathew Clancy.

Colleges star Michael Meehan is also in line for inclusion but Galway face a county that have won five of the last seven provincial minor titles and are reigning U-21 champions.

O'Mahony said: "Mayo are difficult opponents at the best of times and having to play them on home soil isn't going to make it any easier for us. A definite absentee is Brian O'Donoghue who has a serious knee injury. He was senior sub keeper up to the time of his injury and will be a big loss."

Mayo will include two of the senior team which failed to Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final, James Gill and Conor Mortimer. Keeper Fintan Ruddy was a sub on the senior side.

The team is coached by former senior star Kevin McStay, who is in his final season in charge.

The Mayo coach said the U-21 grade is crucial to all counties: "Even though the minor grade is far more glamorous, U-21 is 10 times more important in my view.

"You don't know how many will come through as seniors from the minor grade as at least 75% of them fall by the wayside. In contrast, the good U-21's tend to stay with you.

Turning to tonight's final, McStay says playing at home will be an advantage but argues Galway will start favourites as they will field five seniors with All-Ireland experience.

He said: "There is a healthy rivalry between Mayo and Galway, something akin to Kerry and Cork, Dublin and Meath. The recent game with Cork is still being talked about in Mayo, not so much the defeat but the very poor effort, which is unacceptable.

"You can take it our U-21 team will be competitive tonight, and if we are beaten it will be by a better team.

"We won't give up our title without a serious fight I can assure Mayo people of that."

MAYO (U-21 F v Galway): F. Ruddy; C. Cafferkey, R. Walsh, D. Geraghty; P. Kelly, P. Clarke, C. Moran; P. Nevin, J. Gill; M. Webb, BJ Padden, E. Casey; C. Mortimer, A. Dillon, R. Moran.