Mayo expect a tough campaign

MAYO FOOTBALL boss John O’Mahony has taken a swipe at the method used for making league fixtures as his side again face more games away than at home.

Mayo will entertain neighbours Galway, Dublin and Monaghan but face trips to play Tyrone, Derry, Kerry and Cork.

“This is the the third year out of the last four we have been drawn to play four away matches out of seven,” said O’Mahony. “The ‘computer’ has been very unkind to us once more, but there is not a lot we can do about it.”

The Mayo boss intends using Sunday’s final FBD League pool game against Roscommon to try out more players ahead of what he expects to be a tough league campaign. “Every other year there might have been one or two games that you’d look at and thing you would have a good chance. But this year there is no game like that. They will all be tough battles.”

Mmeanwhile, Galway boss Joe Kernan is hoping that his side will start to take further shape on Sunday when star attacker Michael Meehan makes his first appearance of the year as he returns from injury.

Meehan only turned 25 last month, but on Sunday will begin his eighth campaign for the Tribesmen when he is expected to come off the bench against GMIT in the FBD League.

The Caltra clubman, who made his senior championship debut as an 18-year old in 2003 after a glittering few seasons with St Jarlath’s College and the Galway minors, has been troubled by a hamstring injury for the past few months.

“Michael has worked hard on it over the past few months and we are hopeful he will make some appearance on Sunday against GMIT,” said Kernan.

Meehan, an accountant in Galway city, said he suffered the injury playing for Caltra and in the latter stages of the league and championship last year.

“It has taken a while to get it right, but I have been going well in recent weeks and am looking forward to hopefully getting a run on Sunday. There is huge competition for places this year and I just can’t wait to get back out on the field.”