Varley handed the huge task of filling Andy Moran’s boots
Enda Varley has been handed the rather sizeable task of replacing his injury-stricken captain Andy Moran in the Mayo team to play Dublin this weekend.
As expected, Moran’s absence is the only change from the side that hammered Down in the All-Ireland quarter-final and has prompted a reshuffle in the Mayo attack.
Varley will start at top of the right, with last season’s Young Footballer of the Year Cillian O’Connor occupying the number 14 jersey in Moran’s absence. Jason Doherty will start on the 40, where he will be flanked by Alan Dillon and Kevin McLoughlin, and six years after starting against the same opposition at the same stage, Michael Conroy will join Varley and O’Connor in the full-forward line.
There had been speculation that Horan would opt for a big man like Aidan O’Shea or Ronan McGarrity at the edge of the square, but Varley has seen off competition from Alan Freeman to get the nod and will be looking to repay his manager’s faith at the first possible opportunity.
If you haven’t seen the Dublin team yet, you can do so here.
As you probably already know well, throw-in at Croke Park is on Sunday at 3.30pm.
Mayo team to play Dublin: David Clarke, Kevin Keane, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Donal Vaughan, Colm Boyle, Barry Moran, Aidan O’Shea, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty, Alan Dillon, Enda Varley, Cillian O’Connor, Michael Conroy
