Mayo trio are doubtful for Derry assignment

THREE Mayo players -  Lee Keegan, Ger Cafferkey and Aidan O'Shea - are very much on the doubtful list ahead of their All-Ireland qualifier against Derry which is down for decision in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Saturday evening, July 1, at 5 p.m.

2016 Footballer of the Year, Lee Keegan, picked up a hip injury when assisting his club, Westport, in their Mayo senior championship second round game last weekend.

Keegan clashed with Charlestown's Jack Reilly towards the end of the game and as a result in now in a race against time to be fit for the Derry game.

Full-back Ger Cafferkey also picked up an injury while playing for his club Ballina in their senior championship encounter with Crossmolina.

Like Keegan, it is going to be touch and go for him in terms of being fit to start against Derry.

There are also concerns regarding the fitness of Aidan O'Shea.

While the Breaffy man did play for his club against Hollymount/Carramore in their club championship game last weekend, he still is struggling with a groin injury he picked up a number of weeks ago and left him unable to start the semi-final game against Galway.

While he did come on in the second-half, it was noticeable, as it was in the club championship game last weekend, that he was not 100 per cent fit.

The Connaught Telegraph was informed this evening by a spokesperson for the team that a decision on all three will not to be made until shortly before the Derry game.

Should the three be unable to play it would leave Mayo very stretched at the back, especially as Keith Higgins is ruled out of this game after picking up a one-match ban for his sending off in the provincial semi-final.

The only bit of good news coming from the Mayo camp is that Castlebar Mitchels ace Barry Moran is back in training.

Moran took a full part in last Tuesday evenings session. Up to that Moran has been unable to play for his club or county since the Connaught club semi-final against Corofin last November.