Two debutants in Mayo team to face Galway
Mayo manager Andy Moran during the FBD Final in Tuam. He has made 13 changes to that team for Sunday's league opener. Photo: INPHO/Andrew Paton
Under 20 duo Eoin McGreal and Darragh Beirne are set to make their league debuts on Sunday after being named in the starting team for Andy Moran’s first league game as manager.
McGreal has been named at right-corner back with Beirne selected at top of the right. While both featured in the FBD, this would be considered their competitive debuts.
There is a return to action too for goalkeeper Rob Hennelly and defender Michael Plunkett, both of whom stepped away last year.
Ryan O’Donoghue will captain the team from centre-half forward in the absence of 2026 captain Jack Coyne.
The team named shows 13 changes from the team which faced Galway in last Sunday’s FBD Final in Tuam, with Sam Callinan and Jack Carney the only survivors.
Mayo: Rob Hennelly (Raheny); Eoin McGreal (Garrymore), Rory Brickenden (Westport), Enda Hession (Garrymore); Sam Callinan (Ballina), Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber), Seán Morahan (Castlebar); Bob Tuohy (Castlebar), David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen); Jack Carney (Kilmeena), Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina); Darragh Beirne (Claremorris), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Tommy Conroy (The Neale).
Subs: Jack Livingstone (Breaffy), Liam Golden (Ballina), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Fenton Kelly (Davitts), Paddy Durcan (Castlebar), Conal Dawson (Westport), Séamus Howard (Belmullet), Diarmuid Duffy (Ballinrobe), Fergal Boland (Aghamore), Cian McHale (Moy Davitts), James Carr (Ardagh).
Galway have also named their team for Sunday. Pádraic Joyce has also selected a drastically different side from the FBD Final with only Kieran Molloy, Ciarán Mulhern and Fionn McDonagh surviving. Shane Walsh, who had been an injury doubt, is in the subs while none of Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid, Damien Comer, Peter Cooke, Matthew Thompson and 2026 captain John Maher are named in the matchday panel.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Finnian Ó Laoí, Dylan McHugh, Kieran Molloy; Seán Kelly, Matthew Tierney; Liam Silke, Ciarán Mulhern, Daniel O’Flaherty; Fionn McDonagh, Robert Finnerty, Oisín McDonagh.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, Brian Cogger, Cian Hernon, Seán Ó Maoilchiráin, Shay McGlinchey, Mattias Barrett, Cein Darcy, Shane McGrath, Mikey Mulryan, Shane Walsh, Liam Ó Conghaile.
The game throws in at 1.45pm in Pearse Stadium and is live on TG4. Tickets can be purchased in selected Centra and Super Valu stores and can be bought online here.
