Allianz Football League Division 1

Saturday February 4

Mayo v Monaghan, McHale Park, 7pm

**This year’s Allianz League campaign should be a revealing one for Mayo.

The experienced core of the team have travelled a hard road for the past six years, winning five Connacht titles and losing three All-Ireland Finals, so it’ll be interesting to see just how much they have left in the tank.

If their minds and bodies are as willing as ever, then Mayo definitely have the potential to improve as a team in 2017.

Stephen Rochford is in his second year as manager so should have a better understanding of the players at his disposal and the game-plan required to unlock their full potential.

There should be more graduates from last year’s All-Ireland winning U-21 team ready to make a mark in the senior grade, and it will be interesting to see how much players like Liam Irwin and Fergal Boland will feature in the coming weeks.

Another player capable of making a name for himself in 2017 is midfielder Danny Kirby, who impressed in Mayo’s three FBD League outings.

It’s also a big year for the likes of Evan Regan, Stephen Coen and Conor Loftus who got a taste of the action last year but have the potential to become really key players in this Mayo team in the coming years.

If Mayo are to transform themselves from nearly-men into the best side in the country, then the priority has to be to develop a keener cutting edge in attack.

Regan and Loftus definitely have the raw talent to improve them in that sector, but they need to prove it in this League campaign.

From that point of view it’s unfortunate that Loftus has been struggling with an injury for the past few weeks and is unlikely to feature in this match against Monaghan.

Also currently on the injured list are Aidan O’Shea, Seamus O’Shea, Brendan Harrison, Michael Hall, Chris Barret, and Ger Cafferkey, while Lee Keegan and Kevin Keane are focusing on their All-Ireland Intermediate club campaign with Westport.

Diarmuid O’Connor is also a big doubt after suffering a hamstring injury recently while playing with DCU, while Alan Dillon and Barry Moran are unlikely to be considered for selection after only returning last weekend from their respective honeymoons.

That means Mayo may have no option but to field a relatively new-look team, so opportunity knocks for Monaghan who are expected to wheel out all of their big guns for the League opener.

“You have to be conscious that you need to get your experienced players up to speed as well,” said Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke this week.

“I’d also have to say that an away game against Mayo is not a time for experimenting, it’s a time for looking to the tried and trusted, to players who have been here before, players who have the physical and mental strength and the experience for big occasions like this.

“At the same time there will be a number of young lads in who gained some experience over the last 12 months or so, but overall it will be the tried and trusted.”

Home advantage and the motivation to draw a line under last year’s All-Ireland Final replay should ensure Mayo are fired up for this one, but they can expect Monaghan to make life tough for them.

Mayo: David Clarke; Donie Newcombe, Keith Higgins, Paddy Durcan; Colm Boyle, Stephen Coen, David Drake; Donal Vaughan, Danny Kirby; Fergal Boland, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty; Evan Regan, Alan Freeman, Cillan O'Connor.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe, Neil McAdam, Kieran Duffy; Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Karl O'Connell, Shane Carey, Gavin Doogan; Conor McCarthy, Thomas Kerr, Conor McManus.

---