Big guns absent from Mayo FBD squad

Former All-Stars Alan Dillon and Conor Mortimer haven't been included in a 26-strong Mayo squad for the upcoming Connacht FBD League.

The pair are currently abroad in Australia and New Zealand and aren't due to return until the middle of February, which will rule them out of the first two National League games at least.

Other notable absentees from John O'Mahony's panel are Aidan Kilcoyne, who broke his collarbone twice in the space of a couple of months last autumn, up-and-coming full back Ger Cafferkey, who broke a bone in his hand after slipping on ice, and Tom Cunniffe, who is also injured.

Recent AFL trialist Aidan O'Shea has been included along with fellow 2008 All-Ireland minor finalists Robert Hennelly, Shane Nally and Kevin Keane.

Mayo open their FBD League campaign against NUIG on Sunday.