O'Connor and McHale return to Mayo starting lineup for Cavan test
Darren McHale (pictured) and Diarmuid O'Connor return to the starting lineup for Mayo.
Mayo GAA Senior football manager Kevin McStay has made two changes to his team which started against Galway in the Connacht championship final for their opening game in the All-Ireland Series against Cavan at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
Knockmore's Darren McHale comes in to replace Fergal Boland and Ballintubber's Diarmuid O'Connor is in for Rory Brickenden. There is also a place on the bench for Paddy Durcan, who missed the Connacht final due to a calf injury.
Diarmuid O'Connor will make his 50th championship appearance on Saturday, Diarmuid made his championship debut against New York on May 5, 2014.
This Saturday will be the sixth championship meeting between Cavan and Mayo. Mayo have won three: the 1932 All-Ireland semi-final, and the 2005 and 2007 Qualifiers, both of which were played in MacHale Park.
Cavan's two wins came in the 1937 All-Ireland semi-final and 1948 All-Ireland final, their last championship win against Mayo.
Mayo have a 100% record against Ulster teams in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park winning against Cavan (2007), Fermanagh (2016), Derry (2017), Armagh (2019), Donegal (2019) and Monaghan (2022).
Stephen Coen will captain the team on the day and Meath’s David Coldrick is named to referee this game.
Throw-in is at 5pm. While the game will not be broadcast on live TV or streamed, Midwest Radio will have commentary from Michael D McAndrew and Martin Carney, as well as Mayo GAA doing live updates across all social media channels.
