Injuries mount for Mayo

Six Mayo players picked up injuries in club games last weekend - a statistic which is sure to add to the recent tension between Mickey Moran and the Mayo County Board.

The Mayo manager and his assistant John Morrison refused to take charge of last Tuesday's training session with the senior panel, fuelling speculation that they were about to quit.

The duo are understood to be unhappy with the number of club games - at U21 and senior level - that have been scheduled in the county during the lead-up to Sunday week's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final between Mayo and Laois.

The situation was calmed somewhat last Wednesday when Moran met with Mayo County Chairman James Waldron, and he returned to training the next evening.

A number of Mayo's senior stars have since joined David Brady (foot) and Austin O'Malley (shoulder) on a growing injury list, however.

Team captain and wing-back David Heaney (shoulder), centre-back James Nallen (hamstring), midfielder Ronan McGarrity (dead leg), as well as forwards Trevor Mortimer (hamstring), Ciaran McDonald (back) and Colum Lyons (glandular fever) will all have to prove their fitness before the Laois game.

Heaney sustained a knock to shoulder whilst playing for Swinford. McGarrity was replaced during Ballina's league game against Castlebar, while a tight hamstring ended Nallen's involvement for Crossmolina at the weekend.

Moran was an interested spectator at O'Moore Park last Saturday as quarter-final opponents Laois earned a 1-9 to 0-4 qualifier victory over Offaly.

"The Laois-Offaly game was the type of derby game I expected but Laois were excellent in the second half," he told the Mayo News. "They were only two points up at half-time after having a strong breeze to their backs, but Laois excelled in the second half, keeping Offaly to just one point - a free.

"They showed character, strength, fitness and effort and look in great shape.

"Laois have Padraig Clancy back now and it will be a very tough game for us, especially as they are so used to and suited to Croke Park."