Mayo host Kildare in Castlebar at 7pm on Saturday evening in the latest round of the Allianz National Football League. Both counties suffered defeat last weekend and will be anxious to get back to winning ways.
It was the manner, rather than the result of the defeat to Dublin, that will concern Kieran McGeeney and his Kildare team. The Dubs were expected to provide a stiff task for the unbeaten Lilywhites, but in the finish there was only one team in the game.
Form
Mayo have impressed at stages during this season’s competition, easily beating Kerry, and giving Dublin a real game of it. However, a surprise defeat last weekend to bottom of the table, Down, will have left James Horan questioning his team ahead of this crunch tie. With Tyrone also suffering defeat against Cork, there is still an opportunity for both Mayo and Kildare to make the semi-finals. Kildare were unbeaten going into the Dublin game, but showed signs of weakness against Kerry the previous week, and nothing short of a win will suffice on Saturday evening.
Team News
Goalkeeper David Clarke returns to the Mayo starting fifteen. Seamus O’Shea, Tom Cunniffe and Ballina Stephenites’ Evan Regan have also been included. Kildare make four changes: Hugh Lynch, Morgan O’Flaherty and under-21 pair Daniel Flynn and Niall Kelly replace Mikey Conway, Brian Flanagan, Cathal McNally and Eoghan O’Flaherty.
Players To Watch
Former Cavan star Seanie Johnston has been impressing for his adopted county in recent weeks, and Kildare will be hoping he can show more of the same on Saturday evening. Mayo have moved Aidan O’Shea to centre half forward and he is sure to pose plenty of problems for Kildare.
Betting Advice:
Kildare will not find this an easy task, but at 15/8 they are a fair price with Boylesports.com to cause an upset and take the points here. If they hadn’t played Dublin last weekend they would be closer to 5/4 for this match
