NEWS ROUND-UP:MAYO FOOTBALLER Billy Joe Padden is reported to be on the verge of a shock switch to Armagh's ranks after completing a club transfer from his native Belmullet to Carrickcruppen.
According reports, Padden has trained with the Orchard panel already and manager Paddy O’Rourke is considering whether to add the player to his squad on a permanent basis.
A son of Mayo legend Willie Joe, Padden won a Sigerson All Star in 2004 while attending Queen’s University. The 29-year-old has played at full back, midfield and throughout the forward division for Mayo since making his debut in 2002, winning three Connacht titles and a National League title in that period.
He became a bit-part player under John O’Mahony, however, and his last appearance for Mayo came as a second-half substitute in their first-round championship defeat to Sligo last summer.
Elsewhere, Wexford defender Aindreas Doyle has linked up with Dublin club side Parnells.
Doyle, a regular in Jason Ryan’s half-back line last year, had been playing hs club football with Taghmon-Camross.
Tipperary senior football manager John Evans has admitted he’s unsure about the availability of last year’s captain Robbie Costigan for the coming season.
There has been some speculation in local circles that the 27-year-old and a number of his Cahir club colleagues are preparing for a stint abroad, while the tough-tackling defender is also struggling with a facial injury.
“Robbie is betwixt and between,” said Evans. “He has a double suppressed fracture of his cheekbone. Not only did it happen once, but he went out and played a game when he shouldn’t have and got a belt on it again. I think that may influence him and he may go travelling, but six guys walked in the door so I’m not complaining.”
