Mayo manager John O’Mahony has named four Championship debutants in his side for Saturday evening’s Connacht SFC clash with Sligo.
Corner back Chris Barrett, centre forward Seamus O’Shea and full forward line pair Alan Freeman and Enda Varley will all make their championship bows at Markievicz Park.
O’Shea’s promotion for Championship football comes as his brother Aidan, one of the county’s top performers en route to last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finals, is dropped in favour of debutant Freeman.
In all, there are five changes from the side which went down so dispiritingly to Cork in the National League final six weeks ago, with Liam O’Malley, Trevor Howley, Alan Dillon and Mark Ronaldson also missing out.
Ronan McGarrity returns to the side at midfield as an indirect replacement for Dillon, with Seamus O’Shea moving from the centre of the park to the pivotal forward position.
Mayo team (v. Sligo, Connacht SFC, Saturday 5 June):
David Clarke; Chris Barrett, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins; Donal Vaughan, Tom Cunniffe, Kevin McLoughlin; Tom Parsons, Ronan McGarrity; Andy Moran, Seamus O’Shea, Trevor Mortimer; Conor Mortimer, Alan Freeman, Enda Varley.
