Various county players see Mayo football league action for clubs

Various clubs benefited while other clubs didn’t, as a select number of Mayo senior footballers played in last weekend’s third round of matches in the Mayo Senior Football League.

Three weeks out from the All-Ireland SFC first round clash with Monaghan in Clones, and with challenge matches played against Limerick and Meath since their Connacht semi-final defeat, contrasts were evident as the Mayo full-forward line for that game against Roscommon, Kobe McDonald, Aidan O’Shea and Cian McHale, all featured for Crossmolina, Breaffy and Moy Davitts respectively last Saturday evening, whereas none of the half-forward line of Jack Carney, Ryan O’Donoghue and Jordan Flynn played for Kilmeena, Belmullet or Crossmolina.

And whereas Bob Tuohy led the line at midfield for Castlebar Mitchels against Belmullet, his partner against Roscommon, David McBrien, sat out Ballaghaderreen’s trip to Charlestown Sarsfields.

None of Mayo’s half-back line of Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus or Paddy Durcan saw any minutes for their clubs on Saturday and while Rory Brickenden did feature in Westport’s victory over Knockmore, his colleagues in the Mayo full-back line, Enda Hession and team captain Jack Coyne, didn’t appear for Garrymore or Ballyhaunis.

Darragh Beirne struck home a pair of goals for Claremorris in their defeat away to Crossmolina Deel Rovers while there was also two goals buried by Fenton Kelly for Davitts in their victory away to Hollymount-Carramore, for whom Stephen Coen featured in defence.

Their fellow Mayo defender Michael Plunkett played for Ballintubber who on the other hand had to do without the O’Connor brothers, Cillian and Diarmuid, in their defeat at Ballina Stephenites. The home side did feature county panellists Frank Irwin and Liam Golden in their side but absent along with Sam Callinan was midfielder Dylan Thornton.

Matthew Ruane and goalkeeper Jack Livingstone were central figures along with Aidan O’Shea in Breaffy’s win away to Garrymore and while Sean Morahan joined with Bob Tuohy in helping Castlebar Mitchels to a comfortable win against Belmullet, Donnacha McHugh and John MacMonagle did not feature. On the Belmullet side, Seamus Howard was a notable absentee along with the aforementioned Ryan O’Donoghue.

Paul Towey played in a derby win for Charlestown Sarsfields over Ballaghaderreen and Fergal Boland was on duty for Aghamore in their loss against Balla while Diarmuid Duffy was involved in Ballinrobe’s defeat to Mayo Gaels.

The Western People understands that Mayo U20 captain Colm Lynch is now training with the Mayo senior football panel. The Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin defender featured in two senior games earlier this year against Sligo and Galway in the FBD Connacht League.