Cora Staunton has returned to training with the Mayo ladies senior football squad ahead of their Connacht final clash with Galway later this month. 

The 36 year-old is set to line out in her 23rd successive championship campaign this summer before returning to Australia in November where she will play for a second season with the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Staunton made her senior championship debut for Mayo in 1996 when she was just 14 years old. 

Incredibly, she has never missed a championship game for Mayo since making her debut 22 years ago. 

The veteran forward missed the Westerners’ run to the National League Division 1 final due to her Aussie Rules commitments. 

However, Staunton returned to Ireland in April and accepted Peter Leahy’s invitation to rejoin the Mayo senior panel following their league final defeat to Dublin.

The four-time All-Ireland winner was among the Mayo squad when travelled to Clare Island for a recent training camp.

Staunton has also been playing regularly with All-Ireland club champions, Carnacon, in recent weeks as she re-adjusts to Gaelic football again after six months in Australia.

Speaking after her return to Ireland last month, the ten-time All Star admitted that she was mulling over the decision of whether to commit to Mayo for another summer.

"I have aspirations to go back to Australia again so I have to decide if going back to play county football again is the best thing for me and my body" explained Staunton.

"I got on a plane to Australia the day after we won an All-Ireland club title last year so I’ve been playing and training constantly now for almost a year."

Cora has scored 59-483 for Mayo during her remarkable championship career, playing 67 matches in the competition.

Her return is a huge boost to Mayo hopes of beating defending champions Galway in the upcoming Connacht SFC Final on Sunday, June 24. 

The Tribeswomen have won five of the last six provincial finals played between the two counties. 

It was announced earlier this week that Staunton had signed a new deal with the Great Western Sydney Giants.