THE Mayo County Board has turned down requests from supporters to have next Sunday's county football final postponed to accommodate the suspended Liam McHale.
The Mayo board has received an avalanche of requests, and the front-page story in yesterday's edition of The Western People led with "Postpone county final as tribute to McHale".
"It may make a good headline but unfortunately it's a non-runner," said Mayo County Board secretary Sean Feeney. "The Connacht Council have already rescheduled their club championship programme to facilitate us following the draw with Meath."
The Mayo champions, either Ballina Stephenites or Knockmore, had been due to play Allen Gaels, the Leitrim champions, next Sunday. This game has been refixed for October 20th. On October 13th Mayo are due to play Monaghan in their opening match in Division Two of the National League.
The length of McHale's suspension must also be taken into account. The minimum two-week suspension would still rule McHale out of a replay should Sunday's match end in a draw because tomorrow week has been set aside for a replay.
Tyrone's new manager, Danny Ball, caused a number of surprises yesterday when he announced a 32-strong panel. It does not include last year's captain Ciaran Corr or Damien Gormley, and he recalled from retirement has McGleenan, Noel Donnelly and Eamonn McCaffrey.
McGleenan retired after the defeat by Dublin in last year's final while McCaffrey, from Ball's club Errigal Ciarain, returns after an absence of three years. Donnelly retired almost four years ago.
Omagh's Barry McGinn is given a recall after two years out, as is Paul O'Neill. The Tyrone hurling captain, Vinny Owens, is included. Carrickmore, the new county champions, have six players in the new panel including newcomer Davitt McIlroy, a midfielder.
Meanwhile, former Cork star Gerald McCarthy will be in the hot seat for Waterford against his native county for Saturday's Oireachtas senior hurling clash in Dungarvan.
McCarthy, with co selectors John Galvin and Mossy Walsh, took over from Tony Mansfield. McCarthy and his opposite number in the Cork dug out, Jimmy Barry Murphy, have drafted in key under-21 players.
McCarthy's 31-strong panel includes promising senior prospects in James O'Connor Mick White and Dinny Shanahan. Barry Murphy includes six under-21s but will be without Fergal McCormack, who is involved in the county final replay with Avondhu on Sunday.
The under-21s in Barry Murphy's panel are left corner back Aidan O'Connor (Ballyhea), mid-fielder John Sheehan of St Catherine's, centre half forward Alan Cummins, a son of former Kilkenny star Frank, from Blackrock, Joe Deane of Killea, Eamonn Morrissey (Ballyhea) and Mick OConnell (Midleton).
Ger Cunningham starts his 16th season in goal while Brian Corcoran and Alan Browne are also among the old guard.
