By Cian O'Connell

Diarmuid O'Connor doesn't expect to be fit for Mayo's Connacht SFC opener against New York at Gaelic Park on April 7.

The Ballintubber clubman suffered a hamstring injury during the Allianz Football League.

"It does take a bit of time and you don’t want any reoccurrence to happen there," O'Connor remarked at the Connacht SFC launch.

"It takes a bit of time, but nearly there now so, touch wood, back soon. I’d love to play in New York, but I think it’s a bit too soon for me. I'm working closely with the medical team, so just taking it day by day really and just seeing how it is.”

O'Connor found it frustrating to be restricted to a watching brief for the majority of the league. "I only really got one game so, yeah, it was frustrating I didn’t get to play more," he adds.

"But it is what it is. Just have to focus now on getting myself right, and trying to work my way back into the team.

“It’s been a while since I injured this one, injured the right hamstring - but once it happens once, it’s maybe always kind of a bit there.

“I’ve great men there around me (on the medical team) so just focussing on getting right and getting back.”