Moran reveals his hand for Tralee test

There’s set to be a first ever start in the National Football League for Conal Dawson as Mayo return to Division 1 action this Saturday, where an away win against Kerry would almost guarantee them a place in this season’s inal.

Westport native Dawson was a member of this season’s Sigerson Cup winning University of Limerick team along with Sean Morahan and Cian McHale, both of whom are named among the Mayo substitutes. He started his first championship match for Mayo last year but to date, Dawson's only league appearances have been off the bench this season against Galway and Armagh.

In total, manager Andy Moran had made five changes to the Mayo team that got the better of Armagh last Sunday week, with Dawson joined in the team by Donnacha McHugh, Diarmuid O’Connor, Fergal Boland and Darragh Beirne. The players replaced are Paddy Durcan, Conor Loftus, Enda Hession, Paul Towey and the aforementioned Cian McHale.

Beirne is selected to start despite his and Kobe McDonald’s expected involvement in Mayo’s opening game of the Connacht U20 championship against Sligo next Wednesday. McDonald is named among the substitutes for the senior team’s trip to Tralee, as is Cillian O’Connor.

The GAA’s all-time leading scorer in the All-Ireland SFC could make his first appearance for Mayo since 2024 having opted out of the squad last season.

Throw in at Austin Stack Park is at 4pm.

Mayo (v Kerry): Rob Hennelly; Jack Coyne (c), Rory Brickenden, Donnacha McHugh; Sam Callinan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Conal Dawson; Bob Tuohy, David McBrien; Jack Carney, Ryan O’Donoghue, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Aidan O’Shea, Fergal Boland. Subs: Jack Livingstone, Diarmuid Duffy, Michael Plunkett, Stephen Coen, Fenton Kelly, Seamus Howard, Kobe McDonald, Sean Morahan, Cian McHale, Paul Towey, Cillian O’Connor.