Mayo time their break to perfection

GAA: WITH APRIL so far proving its poetic reputation as the cruellest month, Mayo have timed their so-called training holiday to perfection – and they're not the only ones.

Manager James Horan brings his team to Croke Park for Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division One semi-final against Kerry – a prompt rematch of their draw in Tralee last Sunday – and later that evening they depart for a six-day training holiday in Portugal, close to Vilamoura, where conditions are certain to be more favourable than forecast for Ireland next week.

The Kildare footballers, by coincidence, are headed for the same part of Portugal, and depart on Friday for a 10-day training holiday which presumably will see them return primed if not tanned for their Division Two league final against Tyrone on April 29th.

The Dublin hurlers are just back from their four-day training holiday in Portugal over the Easter weekend. They returned on Monday evening ahead of their crucial Division One relegation play-off against Galway next Sunday.

Whatever about timing their trips to benefit from warmer weather, counties are now restricted under rule to either complete them before the end of the league – or within 13 days of a championship match. Rule 6.23 (b) states: “Senior intercounty panels shall not be permitted to go on training weekends or training of longer duration after the final of their respective National League having been played, except during the 13 days prior to a senior championship game (20 days in the case of an All-Ireland final).”

Mayo actually fell victim to that rule two years ago, when then manager John O’Mahony called off a five-day training holiday in Portugal when informed they would be breaching GAA regulations – but Horan made sure he got his dates in order this time.

“This trip was arranged several weeks ago, to work around whether Mayo were in the league semi-finals or not,” says Mayo press officer Aiden McLoughlin.

“So it won’t conflict with any senior club fixtures, and what is also agreed is that if Mayo do make the league final (on April 29th) they’ll be no fixtures for that weekend either. But if they don’t make the league final then club fixtures will go ahead.”

“It is funded by the Mayo County Board, who cover all team expenses,” adds McLoughlin. “But it’s not significantly more expensive than the training, feeding and travel expenses of being at home.”

With no semi-finals in Division Two, Kildare effectively found themselves with a three-week break to fill before their next league date, thus ideally timed for a training holiday, although manager Kieran McGeeney has agreed there will always be different interpretations of the value of such trips, especially in more frugal times: “If you don’t win, people will be telling you that it was all for nothing, just a tan. If we do well, maybe everyone will be doing it again.”

Again, Dublin hurling manager Anthony Daly had arranged his team trip several weeks back, but couldn’t have timed it any better given the importance of Sunday’s showdown against Galway.

Dublin’s three cruciate victims from last year – Conal Keaney, Stephen Hiney and Tomás Brady – also travelled but with championship preparations in mind rather than this Sunday, as they’re each still a few weeks off match fitness.

The losing team in Tullamore on Sunday will be playing Division Two hurling next year. Galway beat Dublin in their opening league fixture but come into Sunday’s game on the back of a 25-point hammering by Kilkenny in the last round of the league.

Joe Canning could yet play some role for Galway this weekend. Canning has been sidelined since February after tearing the AC joint in his shoulder playing for Limerick IT, but has been back training in recent weeks. A decision on his availability is likely to be made at training tomorrow evening.

Finally, Down manager James McCartan has confirmed both Danny Hughes (hamstring tear) and Dan Gordon (broken bone in his foot) will miss the league semi-final against Cork on Sunday, but should be back in time for the Ulster championship date against Fermanagh on June 3rd.

* Rett Syndrome Association Ireland has been announced as the official GAA charity for 2012. Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder which predominantly affects girls, leaving them profoundly and multiply disabled both physically and mentally.

The GAA also aims to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.