McGarrity makes jaw-dropping return

IN ONE of the most amazing recoveries of the summer, Ronan McGarrity has been named in the Mayo team for Sunday’s Connacht football final against Galway in Pearse Stadium.

McGarrity looked certain to miss out after suffering multiple hairline fractures to his cheekbone in an off-the-ball incident in a club match just last Sunday week, but the Ballina midfielder defied all expectations to resume training this week.

Manager John O’Mahony will still put McGarrity through a late fitness test on Sunday morning, but clearly he has done enough to indicate he will at least play some part. He has been in fine form this season, hitting two points in the ultimately facile semi-final win over Roscommon back on June 20th.

McGarrity is no stranger to such impressive recoveries, having come back from cancer surgery just two years ago to resume his intercounty career with the same vigour as before. The incident which led to the cheekbone injury, as Ballina took on Crossmolina, is still being investigated by the Mayo County Board.

Veteran David Heaney holds on to the other midfield position having been a surprise selection for the Roscommon match, ahead of Tom Parsons.

However, should McGarrity not make the starting Mayo team as named last night, then Parsons would almost certainly take his place.

But McGarrity’s inclusion, at least for now, means there is just one change from the team which recorded the 3-18 to 0-7 win over Roscommon. Corner back Liam O’Malley missed out that day with an ankle injury, but having also returned to training this week, resumes the position ahead of Donal Vaughan.

It is understood O’Malley will also undergo a final fitness test on Sunday morning.

Aidan Kilcoyne, who hit an impressive 1-3 the last day, keeps his place at in the full-forward line ahead of Conor Mortimer, who was a late substitute against Mayo and is likely to play some role again on Sunday.

Regular goalkeeper David Clarke and centre back Tom Cunniffe were once again ruled out with groin injuries, with Kenneth O’Malley continuing between the posts.

Opposing manager Liam Sammon is due to finalise his Galway team today, and at least a couple of changes are expected from their narrow semi-final win over Sligo.

Nicky Joyce has returned to the panel after his absence the last day for disciplinary reasons, and is poised to replace the injured Matthew Clancy, and with midfielder Gary O’Donnell suspended following his red card against Sligo, Niall Coleman is also set to be recalled. Gary Sice is expected to take over from Declan Meehan in the half-back line.

Kerry manager Jack O’Connor has delayed naming his team for Saturday’s third round qualifier against Sligo. While Tadhg Kennelly is ruled out again with a broken finger, Declan O’Sullivan is expected to play as the knee injury sustained against Longford last Saturday was merely bruising.

In hurling, Laois will start their third phase qualifier against Limerick in Thurles on Saturday with the same team that defeated Antrim in phase one. Forwards Eoin Costelloe, Eamonn Jackman and Tommy Fitzgerald were all replaced during the second half of the Antrim game, but have retained their starting places.

That Laois victory over Antrim got them out of the relegation issue which still clouds the latter stages of the championships.

The GAA’s Management Committee will meet tomorrow evening to clarify the confusion over whether or not the relegation play-offs involving Antrim against Offaly and Wexford against Clare will still go ahead – having been deferred from this weekend.

MAYO (SF v Galway): K O’Malley; L O’Malley, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; P Gardiner, T Howley, A Moran; D Heaney, R McGarrity; P Harte, T Mortimer, A Dillon; A Kilcoyne, B Moran, A O’Shea.

LAOIS (SH v Limerick): T Doran; JA Delaney, D Maher, B Stapleton; M Whelan, B Campion, M McEvoy; C Delaney, J Walsh; E Jackman, W Hyland, O Holohan; T Fitzgerald, J Brophy, E Costelloe.

MAYO (MF v Roscommon): M Schlingermann; M Walsh, K Rogers, D Gavin; K Crowe, S McDermott, C Charlton; D Kirby, A Corduff; A Farrell, D Coen, F Durkin; B Ruttledge, A Walsh , C O’Connor.