Mayo boost as Cillian O'Connor returns to full training

Mayo manager Andy Moran said James Carr is "flying" in training and "kicking down my door looking for a place in the squad"

Cillian O'Connor has been out of action for the last two months. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor, the GAA football championship’s all-time leading scorer, has returned to full training ahead of Saturday week’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Louth.

The 34-year-old attacker has been out of action for more than two months due to injury and missed Mayo’s last four championship matches.

However, Andy Moran has confirmed that O’Connor took a full part in training earlier this week and, assuming he stays fit, will be ‘available for selection’ for the last four clash at Croke Park.

“Of course, like everyone else he has to get through the next few sessions, but he’ll be challenging for a place like everyone else,” said Moran, who also confirmed that James Carr is back in the frame for his first championship minutes of the season.

“James is flying too, he’s kicking down my door looking for a place in the squad.” 

Mayo were also unable to call on Diarmuid O’Connor and Paddy Durcan for last weekend’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Cork due to injuries they sustained a week earlier against Meath.

However, Andy Moran revealed that both players ‘are back running’ this week but he was unsure about their prospects of being ready to line out next weekend.

“Until they take the next step, I can't really give you any further update,” he admitted. “I think both should be okay, but we’ll see.

“Fenton Kelly will be back in full training tonight,” added the former Footballer of the Year.

“He’s the most unlucky guy in the room really. He just had a little tweak but it's put him out for the last three games. But he's back training tonight, so he's a happy boy.

“Darren McHale, our highest-scorer last year, is the only one ruled out at the moment.” 

Mayo played three games in 13 days en route to the All-Ireland semi-finals, beginning with a narrow defeat to Tyrone before getting the better of both Meath and Cork.

The gruelling schedule took a heavy mental and physical toll on the Westerners’ squad and Andy Moran admitted that timetable influenced their training plan this week.

“Obviously, you have to deal with the lads that have played three games in 13 days a bit differently than the fellas that need a bit of timber as well,” he explained.

“A lot of boys got through a lot of work on Tuesday night, it was a hard session, but some boys were minded a bit more than others.

“When we’ve had weekends off [with no games] all year, we've given the lads Sunday off.

“So we do Friday, Saturday, and we give the coaching staff and the team Sunday off.

“I think it's worked well for us over the year, so we’ll then do two sessions next week and go up to Dublin on Friday night.

“I think everything in life needs a tiny bit of rhythm, and that just allows us to keep it consistent,” he concluded.