Dempsey looks to learn from lessons of last year as Mayo kick off Connacht campaign

AFTER the trauma of last year’s All-Ireland minor final replay defeat, Mayo boss Ray Dempsey sets off on the 2009 campaign trail tomorrow in the Connacht MFC semi-final against Galway.

Mayo had a golden chance to take honours in the drawn decider against Tyrone, but the Ulster men snatched a late injury-time point to level it before sweeping the westerners aside in the replay.

The marquee names of last year’s team have moved on, with Kevin Keane and Jason Doherty big figures on this season’s U21 side and Aidan O’Shea graduating to life at senior level. Midfielder Alex Corduff and full-forward Aidan Walsh are the only regular starters from last year in the team, while defenders Kieran Rogers and Ciarán Charlton were panellists in 2008. Daniel Kirby and Cillian O’Connor will be other mainstays in the Mayo setup.