O'Shea set for milestone as Mayo name lineup for Connacht semi-final
Mayo's Aidan O’Shea is set for a milestone appearance against Leitrim. Picture: INPHO/Andrew Paton
Mayo senior football manager Kevin McStay and his management team have named the team to face Leitrim in the Connacht SFC semi-final tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon.
There are no changes to the starting fifteen that played Sligo in the Connacht quarter-final two weeks ago.
Aidan O'Shea will make his 200th league and championship appearance for Mayo this weekend. The Breaffy star began his Mayo senior career against Derry in the Allianz League on February 1, 2009, and his championship debut came against New York in Gaelic Park on May 10 later that year.
In total, Aidan has made 107 league and 92 championship appearances for Mayo. He becomes the first Mayo player, and only the second player nationally to reach the 200th appearance milestone, Dunlin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton (206) being the other player. Aidan has scored 20-110 for Mayo during his career to date.
Aidan's 92 championship appearances is a record for an outfield player, putting him ahead of Sean Cavanagh on 89, and Tomas and Marc O'Sé who both played 88 times in the championship for Kerry. Again only Cluxton sits ahead of Aidan in terms of championship appearances.
2021: Mayo 5-20 Leitrim 0-11 (Connacht quarter-final)
2020: Mayo 2-15 Leitrim 0-10 (Connacht semi-final)
2012: Mayo 4-20 Leitrim 0-10 (Connacht semi-final)
2006: Mayo 1-10 Leitrim 1-9 Connacht semi-final)
1997: Mayo 0-18 Leitrim 0-11 (Connacht semi-final)
Leitrim are bidding to reach the Connacht Final for the first time since 2000, while Mayo are attempting to reach the Connacht final for a second successive year.
Mayo have beaten Leitrim by a total of 57 points in their last three championship meetings. Leitrim didn’t score a goal in any of them. Other than against London and New York, Leitrim haven’t won a Connacht championship game since beating Sligo in the 2011 quarter-final. Mayo have lost to Leitrim only three times in the Connacht Championship (1994-1976-1959), Leitrim’s last success came in the 1994 Connacht final.
Throw-in is at 4.30pm and the game will be live on GAA+target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and also on Midwest Radio with commentary from Michael D McAndrew and Martin Carney. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Stephen Coen; Jack Carney, Matthew Ruane; Davitt Neary, Darren McHale, Fenton Kelly; Aidan O'Shea, Dylan Thornton, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Adrian Phillips, Conor Reid, Diarmuid O'Connor, Eoghan McLaughlin, Eoin O'Donoghue, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Jordan Flynn, Niall Coggins, Paul Towey, Shairoze Akram.
