IT LOOKS LIKE MAYO will be without their captain Diarmuid O’Connor for the rest of the All-Ireland SFC series after he fractured his wrist in training last night.
O’Connor, who led Mayo to their first National League title in 18 years at the end of March, is believed to have suffered the injury during a squad training session at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.
It is understood that the Ballintubber clubman is expected to undergo surgery to repair the damage at some stage this week.
Mayo take on Armagh in Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers in Castlebar on Saturday evening at 7pm.
O’Connor’s injury is the latest blow to James Horan’s plans to qualify for the Super 8s with midfielder Matthew Ruane already ruled out for the rest of the campaign after breaking his collarbone during a training session earlier this month.
Horan’s midfield options are already stretched with experienced duo Tom Parsons (knee) and Seamie O’Shea (ankle) both currently trying to work their way back to full fitness, along with the aforementioned Ruane.
Parsons has been out of action for over a year while O’Shea hasn’t lined out with Mayo for four months.
The likes of Stephen Coen and Mikey Murray, who came off the bench to make his championship debut against Down last Saturday, are among the most likely replacements for next weekend’s knock-out game at MacHale Park.
Another possible replacement option, Donal Vaughan, has also missed Mayo’s last four competitive games due to injury but was due to return to training this week, according to the Mayo manager.
Horan also confirmed last week that Diarmuid O’Connor’s older brother, Cillian, was ‘very very close’ to making his competitive return.
Mayo’s all-time leading scorer hasn’t played a full competitive game for club or county in seven months after undergoing knee surgery last December.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
That’s them gone
With Ruane and O’Connor they may have had a chance at midfield against the bigger teams but they don’t have the depth to cover that area and the O’Sheas aren’t the answer at midfield!
@Alan Doherty: at midfield Seamie, Ruane, Parsons and OConnor all injured. That type of injury list would even be massive for Dublin if they lost 4 options at midfield.
Very bad news for Mayo.
@Alan Doherty: Aidan O Shea is one of the top midfielders in the country. Once Tom Parsons returns & Seamie to come back it is not all doom & gloom. This is a setback, O Connor was a serious driving force & a primary score taker
@Conor Houlihan: Parsons hasn’t played any competitive football in over a year now. Will hardly make an appearance this year. Seamie hasn’t played in months and has 40 mins of game time in him really. O shea and ruane had struck up a brilliant midfield partnership.
David Clarke will have a lot of pressure put on his kick outs now. As much as I have a go at Mayo, you never want to see a side get hammered with injuries. It’s a long hard year on the lads at this level so to get injured right now is (pardon the pun) a pain
That’s that then. Next year….
Massive blow. Very short on midfield options now. Not looking good.
Mayo are always so unlucky
Bit like sinn fein then
Isn’t it nice of us to be giving poor auld Dublin a chance . Get well soon DOM
DoC even