Andy reveals his first hand as manager
Jordan Flynn of Mayo holds off Sligo's Luke Towey in a previous encounter between the neighbours. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Andy Moran has named an experimental Mayo side for Saturday’s first round clash with Sligo in the FBD Connacht Senior Football League.
Just four players who featured for the Green and Red in last year’s senior championship campaign are among the fifteen named starters for the match in Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown (1pm).
Enda Hession and Fenton Kelly are selected at left corner-back and right half-back respectively while Jordan Flynn and Aidan O’Shea are named at midfield and full-forward.
While Mayo lost to Meath and beat Offaly in pre-Christmas challenge matches in Longford and Castlebar, Saturday's game is Andy Moran's first in a tournament setting as manager and comes at the beginning of a month that will see Mayo play their opening National Football League Division 1 of 2026, against Galway, on January 25.
There are four starters who were part of the Mayo side that reached last year’s All-Ireland U20 semi-final, with Eoin McGreal and Colm Lynch picked in defence and Seamus Howard and Darragh Beirne both lining out in attack.
The game will also see the return of experienced goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly after his retirement at the end of 2024.
County champions Ballina Stephenites are represented by Liam Golden who will operate at full-back behind centre-back Michael Plunkett from Ballintubber, who along with James Carr opted out of the Mayo panel in 2025. Carr is among a list of substitutes that also includes recently appointed Mayo captain Jack Coyne, Ryan O’Donoghue, Stephen Coen, Dylan Thornton and Bob Tuohy, all of whom featured in last season’s championship.
Mayo (v Sligo): Robbie Hennelly; Eoin McGreal, Liam Golden, Enda Hession, Fenton Kelly, Michael Plunkett, Colm Lynch; Jordan Flynn, Brian O’Malley; Nathan Moran, Adam Barrett, Seamus Howard; Darragh Beirne, Aidan O’Shea, Kuba Callaghan. Subs: Jack Livingstone, Jack Coyne, Liam Donoghue, Cathal Keaveney, Bob Tuohy, Ryan O’Donoghue, Stephen Coen, Diarmuid Duffy, Dylan Thornton, James Carr, Finbar McLaughlin.
Sligo (v Mayo): Keelan Harte; Tommy Ross, Nathan Mullen, Luke Casserly; Paul Kilcoyne, Jack Lavin, Daire O’Boyle; Darragh Cummins, Conor Sheridan; James Donlon, Alan McLoughlin, Pat Spillane; Lee Deignan, Cian Lally, Shane Deignan.
