Mayo can benefit from their break from competitive action since their Connacht SFC exit to Roscommon last month, according to former goalkeeper David Clarke.

Kevin McStay’s men return to championship duty today for the first time in six weeks when they take on defending champions Kerry in Killarney (3pm) in the opening round of the All-Ireland SFC group stages.

Speaking to RTE Sport ahead of the showdown at Fitzgerald Stadium, Clarke believes that hard yards have gone in at Mayo training session over the last month-and-a-half.

"Mayo have had that break and, in many ways, it mightn't be a bad thing," he said.

"I think Kevin McStay came in, set his stall out at the start of the season that he was going after that league, game after game, even FBD early on, strong pre-season, get going and unfortunately they didn't seem to hit the peaks that are needed for championship football.

"But there is a difference between league and championship football. So, I can imagine from my past experiences of similar situations with Mayo and Donie Buckley involved, it was tough training there for a number of weeks with that break. That can really set the tone going forward."

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