No changes for Sligo as Kevin Keane misses out for Mayo

Donal Vaughan will play at full back for Mayo if they line out as selected in Connacht final

Mayo have named Donal Vaughan at full back for Sunday’s Connacht final against Sligo.

Joint managers Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes had experimented with the half back come midfielder at number three during the FBD League, and with Kevin Keane ruled out through injury he comes back into the team for the provincial decider.

Chris Barrett is another to miss out through injury, with Ger Cafferkey replacing him at corner back. Yet with Cafferkey being a natural full back, and regular corner back Tom Cunniffe being named at centre back, a defensive reshuffle could be on the cards.

In the forward line Diarmuid O’Connor has seemingly recovered in time from a wrist injury to line out at number ten, alongside big Aidan O’Shea and Kevin McLoughlin.

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Sligo have named an unchanged side from that which beat Roscommon in the semi-final. Cian Breheny and Niall Murphy remain at midfield with Criostoir Davey retained at half forward having been dismissed via a black card in the first half against Roscommon.

Sligo go in search of a first title since 2007, in their first appearance in a final since 2012. Mayo are in sharp pursuit of five-in-a-row. Throw-in at Dr Hyde Park is at 4pm.

MAYO: David Clarke; Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Keith Higgins (captain); Lee Keegan, Tom Cunniffe, Colm Boyle; Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons; Diarmuid O'Connor, Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin; Andy Moran, Cillian O'Connor, Jason Doherty.

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Ross Donovan, Kevin McDonnell, Daniel Maye; Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Eoin Flanagan; Cian Breheny, Niall Murphy; Criostoir Davey, Mark Breheny, Neil Ewing; David Kelly, Pat Hughes, Adrian Marren.

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist