Mayo footballers received a huge blow to their All-Ireland final hopes against Kerry on September 28th when Kevin O'Neill broke his leg in training last night.

O'Neill, who was training with the county panel in McHale Park, Castlebar, was brought by ambulance to Castlebar General Hospital and was later transferred to Merlin Park Hospital in Galway. O'Neill, who scored a point when brought on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final against Offaly last Sunday, had been recalled to the squad after making himself unavailable earlier in the championship.

He won an All-Star award in 1993, but was controversially dropped from the Mayo squad for the All-Ireland final replay against Meath last year, which Mayo lost.

In March, he helped his club Knockmore to the All-Ireland club final which they lost to Armagh side Crossmaglen Rangers. Knockmore are due to play Crossmolina in the Mayo county championship semi-final next Sunday.

O'Neill was producing some of his best form in training recently and was pushing hard for a place on the team to face Kerry. His loss will greatly reduce manager John Maughan's options in attack, especially after they kicked 17 wides against Offaly last Sunday.