Mayo unable to 'fulfil FBD League fixture'

The annual Connacht FBD League final between New York and winners of the domestic competition will not go ahead as planned next week.

The Mayo County Board have taken the decision to withdraw from the New York v Mayo decider, which was scheduled to take place in the Big Apple on Sunday week (October 7).

A congested fixtures list in the Mayo Club Championships and the unavailability of a number of players gave the board no option but to inform the Connacht Council and New York GAA that they would be 'unable to field a team'.

Releasing a statement to confirm their decision, the Mayo County Board said: "Our involvement in the FBD League final, the abandoned National League game against Dublin and the refixture, the National League semi-final and final, as well as our involvement in the All-Ireland final last week has had a major impact on club fixtures.

"In order to ensure the involvement of Mayo clubs in the Connacht Club championships, we have had to reschedule our Senior and Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals and ten of our present panel are involved in these games.

"Three of our present panel have also played for other teams in the FBD League and are therefore unavailable to play for Mayo.

"A further ten players are unavailable to travel due to family and work commitments, which is understandable after their commitment over the last nine months."

The statement concluded: "We realise the time and effort that the Connacht Council and the New York County Board have put into arranging this fixture, and it is with the deepest regret that we have had to take this decision."

James Horan's men, who retained their Connacht crown in the summer, began the year by claiming back-to-back FBD League titles with a 0-14 to 0-4 final victory over NUIG in January.