Mayo trio set for championship debut

JOHN O’MAHONY has given championship debuts to three players for tomorrow’s clash at Gaelic Park.

Knockmore’s Kevin McLoughlin, Ballinrobe’s Donal Vaughan and Breaffy’s Aidan O’Shea all feature in the first 15 for a senior championship game for the first time.

All three were integral members of the Mayo U21 team which lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Down last month. Another member of that team – Tom Parsons – is also on the first 15 after making his debut last year.

There are welcome returns after injury problems for Trevor Howley and Barry Moran. Andy Moran, who had spent most of the National Football League at left-half back, makes a return to corner-forward.

Trevor Mortimer will lead the team from centre-half forward. Mayo travelled to New York minus Co nor Mortimer (injury), Mark Ronaldson, Seamus O’Shea, Kenneth O’Malley (all exams) and Keith Higgins (hurling commitments).

Mayo (v New York): D Clarke; L O’Malley, G Cafferkey, K McLoughlin; P Gardiner, T Howley, D Vaughan; T Parsons, R McGarrity; P Harte, T Mortimer, A Dillon; A Moran, A O’Shea, B Moran.