Horan makes four changes for Mayo's encounter with Armagh
James Horan continues with his rotation policy and has made four changes to the Mayo team for their Round 4 Allianz National Football League game against Armagh this weekend at Dr. Hyde Park in Roscommon.
Horan is also giving a league debut to Ballina Stephenites rising star Frank Irwin at full forward.
Irwin is the son of former Mayo goalkeeper Gabriel Irwin, who won three Connacht titles and an All-Star award with Mayo in 1989.
Irwin’s team mate Sam Callinan also gets his first start in the National Football League after coming off the bench against Donegal in the opening round. The changes from the Dublin game sees Callinan replace Donncha McHugh in the half back line, Westport’s Fionn McDonagh comes in for Bryan Walsh at left half forward, Crossmolina’s Conor Loftus replaces Jack Carney at right half forward with debutant Irwin coming in at full forward in place of Paul Towey.
McHugh, Carney and Towey are named on a very strong bench that also includes the O’Shea brothers Aidan and Conor, Paddy Durcan, Kevin McLoughlin, Fergal Boland and Brendan Harrison.
Breaffy’s Rob Hennelly will make his 70th league and championship appearance for Mayo on Sunday.
Sunday’s game will be Mayo’s 600th game in the National Football League. Their most frequent opponents have been Kerry who they have met on 50 occasions, with Galway (48), Dublin (38), Meath (37) and Sligo (35) being next in line.
At the other end of the scale, they have never played either London or Waterford in the League, while they have met Wicklow, Kilkenny and Carlow on just two occasions.
Mayo have played Armagh on fourteen occasions in the National Football league with the record standing at Armagh with eight wins, Mayo with four wins and there were two draws.
Mayo v Armagh Previous League Meetings
11/11/1979 Armagh 1-11 Mayo 2-4 Armagh
15/11/1981 Mayo 2-4 Armagh 1-7 Lurgan
21/11/1982 Armagh 3-4 Mayo 0-9 Ballyhaunis
30/03/1986 Mayo 0-15 Armagh 1-7 Croke Park QF
16/11/1986 Mayo 2-6 Armagh 1-6 Charlestown
22/11/1987 Armagh 4-5 Mayo 1-6 Charlestown
30/03/1988 Armagh 2-8 Mayo 2-6 Carrick - Leitrim
08/03/1992 Mayo 3-4 Armagh 2-4 Armagh
14/03/1993 Armagh 0-10 Mayo 0-8 Charlestown
16/10/1994 Armagh 2-13 Mayo 1-10 Armagh
02/03/1997 Mayo 0-13 Armagh 1-10 Charlestown
24/04/1995 Armagh 0-19 Mayo 0-14 Croke Park SF
13/03/2011 Armagh 2-10 Mayo 1-10 MacHale Park
03/03/2012 Mayo 1-14 Armagh 0-11 Armagh
Mayo team is as follows:
1 Rob Hennelly – Roibeard O’Hionnaile - Breaffy
2. Lee Keegan – Laoi MacAogáin – Westport
3. Rory Brickenden - Ruairí Brickenden – Westport
4. Michael Plunkett – Micheal Pluinceid – Ballintubber
5. Oisín Mullin - Oisín Ó’Maoláin - Kilmaine
6. Stephen Coen (captain) – Stiofáin O’Cadhain – Hollymount / Carramore
7. Sam Callinan – Somhairle O’Calináin - Ballina Stephenites
8. Jordan Flynn – Siuirtán Floinn – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
9. Matthew Ruane - Maitiú Ó Ruáin - Breaffy
10. Fionn McDonagh – Fionn MacDonncha – Westport
11. Diarmuid O’Connor – Diarmuid O’Conchuir - Ballintubber
12. Conor Loftus – Conchur O’Lachtnáin – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
13. Aiden Orme – Aodhán Orme – Knockmore
14. Frank Irwin - Proinséas Ó Éireamhón - Ballina Stephenites
15. Ryan O’Donoghue – Riain O’Donnachadh - Beal a Mhuirthead
SUBS:
16. Rory Byrne – Ruairi O’Broin – Castlebar Mitchels
17. Donnacha McHugh – Donnacha MacAodh – Castlebar Mitchels
18. Brendan Harrison - Breandan Ó Hearchaí - Aghamore
19. Paddy Durcan - Padraig Ó Durcáin - Castlebar Mitchels
20. Padraig O’Hora – Pádraig O’hOra – Ballina Stephenites
21. Conor O’Shea – Conchur O’Se – Breaffy
22. Aidan O’Shea – Aodhán O’Se – Breaffy
23. Kevin McLoughlin - Caoimhín MacLochlainn - Knockmore
24. Paul Towey – Pól Tuathaigh– Charlestown
25. Jack Carney - Sean O’Cearnaigh – Kilmeena
26. Fergal Boland - Fearghal Ó’Beolláin - Aghamore