League debuts for two players on Mayo team to face Galway
Mayo GAA senior football team manager Kevin McStay has handed league debuts to two players for the opening round game of the Allianz National Football League Division 1 against Galway.
Knockmore's versatile netminder Colm Reape gets his first outing in goal for Mayo after impressing in the FBD League earlier this month, while Jack Coyne from Ballyhaunis also gets his first league start for his county at corner back after a very impressive season with his club in the Mayo intermediate football championship.
Elsewhere, Rory Brickenden from Westport and Enda Hession from Garrymore complete the Mayo full-back line, while captain Stephen Coen, the redeployed Conor Loftus and Donnacha McHugh make up the Mayo half-back line.
The experienced Matthew Ruane and the evergreen Diarmuid O'Connor are named at midfield. In attack, Westport's Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney from Kilmeena and Jordan Flynn from Crossmolina Deel Rovers are named in the half-forward line, while the Mayo full-forward line consists of Aiden Orme from Knockmore, James Carr from Ardagh and Ryan O'Donoghue from Belmullet.
Stephen Coen will captain the side against Galway but McStay has confirmed that Paddy Durcan from Castlebar Mitchels will captain Mayo for the 2023 season. Coen and Tommy Conroy will serve as vice-captains.
This will be Mayo's 49th National League meeting with Galway. Mayo have won 26 games while Galway have won 18, and four of the games have resulted in draws.
The game throws in at 7.30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) evening at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, with live coverage on RTÉ Two and Midwest Radio (with Michael D. McAndrew and Martin Carney), plus regular update across all Mayo GAA social media platforms. The referee for the game is Cavan's Joe McQuillan. Supporters are encouraged to arrive early.
The full Mayo starting team is as follows: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, Conor Loftus, Donnacha McHugh; Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O'Connor; Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Loftus; Aiden Orme, James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue.
The Galway team was named earlier today.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána has issued a message to those travelling to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park for tomorrow evening's game regarding traffic lights at Heathlawn on the Claremorris-Balla road (on the Balla side of the Beaten Path).
There will be activated traffic lights in place all day and night over the weekend. These lights will give priority to the traffic coming from the busiest side. It is suggested that, where possible, people might use an alternative route to Castlebar as there are likely to be some delays.
Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance via GAA.ie/tickets and in selected SuperValu and Centra Stores. The admission cost is €18 for adults and €15 for students and OAPs, while entry is free for juveniles (under 16 years old).
As parking around Hastings Insurance MacHale Park is limited, there will be no public parking around the An Sportlann car park. Patrons are advised to arrive early and obey all the stewards and gardaí on duty inside and outside the grounds.
All Mayo GAA supporters are asked to obey all bylaws and show consideration for local residents when parking. Parking by supporters along the N5 is not recommended for health and safety reasons. There will be ample free car-parking spaces for supporters within the environs of Castlebar itself.
Turnstiles will open at 5.45 p.m. Supporters entering the stand can access the stadium via the An Sportlann car park, while those entering the terraces can access the grounds via the turnstiles on McHale Road. Supporters are asked to have their digital tickets ready for scanning on arrival at the turnstiles. Match day programmes will be available to purchase inside the grounds.