'Full' steam ahead for Mayo and McDonald
Mayo manager Mickey Moran has dubbed it "a potential banana skin" but the westerners' Connacht SFC quarter-final trip to London this weekend has afforded them licence to experiment.
And Derry native Moran has done just that with the mercurial Ciaran McDonald, who so often has directed operations for Mayo from centre forward, selected at full-forward.
The 31-year-old McDonald, who won an All-Star in 2004 and captained Mayo last year, played at full-forward in a challenge match against Longford last week and Moran was suitably impressed.
With Conor Mortimer, whose two-month suspension came to an end last weekend, alongside McDonald in the right corner, Mayo will not be lacking in fire power for the Ruislip tie (throw-in 3.00pm).
Moran has included captain David Heaney at midfield with Ger Brady, off the back of some barnstorming displays in the League, to lead the attack at centre forward. His brother David has failed to nudge his way into contention following a fractured cheekbone injury.
Sunday will see Moran lead a fourth different county into championship action after spells at the managerial helm of Derry, Sligo and Donegal.
He said: "Our situation is not unlike Kerry's game against Waterford last weekend. Kerry were on a hiding to nothing. If they hammered Waterford they would get no credit and if they won narrowly, they would get destroyed by critics. We are in a no win situation."
The winners will face Leitrim in a May 25 semi-final at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Moran, his players and backroom staff will fly from Galway Airport to London tomorrow afternoon.
MAYO (SFC v London) - J Healy; D Geraghty, L O’Malley, K Higgins; P Kelly, J Nallen, P Gardiner; D Heaney (capt), P Harte; A Moran, G Brady, A Dillon; C Mortimer, C McDonald, A O’Malley.
