Mayo trip to Portugal postponed

Mayo Senior footballers planned training trip to Portugal has been postponed, because of GAA regulations.

The beaten Division 1 National Football league finalists were due to fly out to Portugal for a six-day training camp this Sunday, but will not do so as under GAA rules players must be released to their clubs.

GAA rules state that such trips are only allowed if they take place within 13-days before a provincial Championship game or 20 days prior to an All-Ireland tie, as players are only fully released to county squads during this period.

Mayo begin the defence of their Connacht SFC title against Sligo on Saturday, June 5 at Markievicz Park.

However the trip may go ahead later this Summer, pending Mayo's Championship involvement.

Laois Senior footballers are among the county teams who recently returned from a stint at Browns Sports and Leisure Club in the Algarve.

Mayo will face Cavan on Saturday, May 15 in Belmullet to mark the official opening of the North Mayo club's new €1.8m development.

Meanwhile Galway Senior footballers have still not returned following their Connacht SFC opener in New York last Sunday.

The players, officials and supporters travelled to London this morning and will travel by bus across Britain, before getting a ferry to Dublin tonight.

The party of around 140 will not arrive at Galway GAA's Lough George training facility in Claregalway until the early hours of tomorrow morning.