Injured keane out for the final

AS expected - and as announced by The Connaught Telegraph on Monday night - Kevin Keane will not start at full-back for Mayo in Sunday's Connaught SFC final against Sligo in Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon (throw-in at 4 p.m.).

The team-sheet released by Mayo GAA suggests Donal Vaughan comes into the side for the injured Keane but it is widely expected that Ger Cafferkey, who replaces Chris Barrett in the starting 15, will play in the full-back position, with Vaughan going to centre-half back and Tom Cunniffe starting at right-full.

Westport man Keane, who had been enjoying a decent year at No. 3 for Mayo, was injured in an A versus B training game and Cafferkey is his logical replacement at full-back, a position he had made his own for a number of seasons until this year.

Aidan O'Shea is named at centre-half forward but is likely to rotate between the full-forward and midfield positions, while Jason Doherty is down to start at the top of the left but will probably operate in the half-forward line.

It's five weeks since Mayo last saw competitive action. The reigning Connaught champions, going for five provincial titles in a row, proved too strong for Galway in Salthill, while Sligo surprised Roscommon in the other semi-final to book their place in Sunday's decider.

The Mayo team announced is as follows: David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Seamus O'Shea (Breaffy), Tom Parsons (Charlestown Sarsfields); Diarmuid O'Connor (Ballintubber), Aidan O'Shea (Breaffy), Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore); Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen), Cillian O'Connor (Ballintubber), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole).