Mayo include O'Connor for league decider
Ballintubber forward Cillian O'Connor is the only change to the Mayo team to face Cork in Sunday's Allianz League Division 1 final.
O'Connor was used as a substitute in the semi-final victory over Kerry, with his two-point contribution including the free which took the game to extra-time.
Jason Doherty drops to the substitutes bench this time, allowing O'Connor to slot straight in at full-forward alongside Conor Mortimer and Michael Conroy.
Alan Freeman, who has recovered from an ankle injury, has to be content with a place on the bench, while midfielder Aidan O'Shea misses out due to a groin injury.
Mayo lost by a point to Cork - 0-14 to 0-13 - when the sides met in Castlebar last month. Manager James Horan's selection for the final at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm) includes 12 of the starters from that day, with Kevin Keane, Jason Gibbons and Mortimer the only newcomers.
The Connacht champions held a training camp in Portugal last week, and Horan was pleased with the progress made during their stay.
"It was well-planned and well-executed. There was a good intensity to everything we did and the players, as you’d expect, gave great commitment," he told the Mayo News.
"The conditions were ideal too so I was very happy. The big thing was the sheer volume of work we were able to do. It was the equivalent of about a month’s training here in Ireland."
Mayo last won the Division 1 title in 2001. The westerners, who are second on the honours list behind Kerry, are bidding for their 12th title while Cork are seeking their eighth league crown.
MAYO (AFL v Cork): David Clarke; Kevin Keane, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Donal Vaughan, Colm Boyle; Barry Moran, Jason Gibbons; Kevin McLoughlin, Andy Moran (capt), Alan Dillon; Conor Mortimer, Cillian O'Connor, Michael Conroy.
Subs: Robert Hennelly, Michael Walsh, Shane McHale, Peadar Gardiner, Richie Feeney, Danny Geraghty, Seamus O'Shea, Pat Harte, Alan Freeman, Enda Varley, Jason Doherty.
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