Maughan bemoans long break

All-Ireland SFC/Team News: Mayo football manager John Maughan fears the long absence from competitive football may come against his team in Sunday's Connacht semi-final against old rivals Galway. The team have endured an eight-week lay-off since their opening championship match against New York, which Mayo came through relatively unscathed by scoring 3-28 to New York's 1-9.

"Sure, it's been an inordinately long time," said Maughan. "And having an eight-week break like this just doesn't make sense to me. I mean, we would have gladly come out and played again two or three weeks after the New York game.

"So just don't ask me the reason for it. I can't figure it out. But it also reflects poorly on the whole qualifier system.

"What it comes down to is that the fate of Mayo's and Galway's championship could be decided in a six-day period. And I can't figure out why the GAA would want to allow that to happen."

Galway, who announced their team on Monday, had an equally facile win over London, emerging on an 8-14 to 0-8 score line, but they at least have been out of action for only four weeks.

Mayo, though, haven't sat totally idle in recent weeks. As well as the two challenge games against Kildare and Meath, they spent five days in intensive training in the Catskills mountains a few hours drive north of New York immediately after their opening championship match.

"It was a very successful venture," said Maughan, "and something I would definitely look into again if Mayo were drawn there once more.

"In fact I would recommend it to any team going out there as long as the relationship with the New York board remains. And hopefully we can still get some of the benefits of that trip on Sunday."

And Maughan is hopeful his team has remained fully focused on the task at hand despite the lay-off: "Yeah, now that the game has arrived we're as ready for it as we could be. And it's not like you'd lose any of your focus or anticipation playing a team like Galway. We don't need to be reminded about the challenge they'll present."

The announcement of his starting line-up for the game at McHale Park in Castlebar was delayed last night, but definitely ruled out with a knee injury is goalkeeper Peter Burke.

"It's unfortunate for him, especially the timing," said Maughan: "But other than that we were able to pick from a full deck. And to be honest all of the 30 or so players we have were in a position to be considered to make the starting line-up."

The main talking point is the possible inclusion of Kieran McDonald, who only recently returned to the panel after a self-imposed exile of around 15 months. Still viewed as one of the most dangerous forwards in the country, the Crossmolina player left the Mayo panel during the 2003 league after some hostile treatment by opposing supporters.

"Obviously a player of Kieran's talent will always be considered for the starting line-up," said Maughan. "He has been hampered by a few minor injuries since rejoining the panel but even still his training has gone very well. His first game back for us was the challenge against Kildare and he's done well since then."

Of course Maughan won't need any introduction to the Galway manager, fellow Mayo man John O'Mahony. Sunday's game marks the fourth championship meeting between the rival counties since he took over in Galway in October 1997, and O'Mahony has orchestrated three victories - 1998, and 2002-03.

Maughan enjoyed three victories over Galway during his previous term as Mayo manager - 1996-97, and 1999.

Wexford, meanwhile, will start their Leinster football semi-final against Westmeath with four changes from the team that beat Kildare. Into the starting line-up come wing back Leigh O'Brien, and forwards David Fogarty, Pat Forde and Jason Lawlor.

Corner back Colm Morris is suspended, and Darragh Breen drops back as a result, while midfielder Nicky Lambert was also ruled out after suffering a broken leg in the Kildare match. Forde, Lawlor and O'Brien appeared as substitutes the last day.