THERE’S A STRONG football influence in the Mayo hurling side named to face Armagh in tomorrow’s Nicky Rackard Cup final in Croke Park.

Allstar winning defender Keith Higgins is named at centre-forward after playing for the Mayo footballers against London last Sunday.

Keith Higgins in action for Mayo against London Gerry McManus / INPHO Gerry McManus / INPHO / INPHO

He has been partaking in a training camp with the football squad this week in the English city but will be back in time for the hurling game.

• Cork and Mayo footballers in opposition camps for hurling final in Croke Park next Saturday

In addition recent All-Ireland U21 football winner David Kenny has been drafted into the Mayo team.

He comes into the Mayo team at midfield for Kieran McDermott in the only change from the team that saw off Donegal at the semi-final stage.

Kenny started at left corner-back on the Mayo side that saw off Cork in April’s EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football final in Ennis.

David Kenny in action against Cork in Ennis Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The McManus brothers, Ger and Joseph, start at full-back and wing-forward respectively. The duo play with St Judes in Dublin but opted to play this year for Mayo, where their father hails.

They have started in the last two Dublin senior hurling finals as St Judes lost out to Kilmacud Crokes in 2014 and Cuala in 2015.

Ger McManus after the 2014 Dublin senior hurling final Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo

1. Donal O’Brien (Ballyhaunis)

2. Brian Hunt (Ballyhaunis)
3. Gerard McManus (St. Jude’s, Dublin)
4. Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)

5. Cathal Freeman (Tooreen)
6. Padraig O’Flynn (Castlegar)
7. Austin Lyons (Ballyhaunis)

8. David Kenny (Tooreen)
9. Ciaran Charlton (Tooreen)

10. Joseph McManus (St. Jude’s, Dublin)
11. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
12. Sean Regan (Tooreen)

13. Shane Boland (Tooreen)
14. Kenny Feeney (Tooreen)
15. Darren McTigue (Castlebar Mitchels)

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