Mayo manager James Horan has quashed rumours of a disciplinary issue against forward Cillian O'Connor, saying "sometimes there's crazy stuff happening".

The rumour mill went into overdrive in the lead up to Mayo's Round 2 victory over Down on Saturday evening, that there were issues between the former All-Star forward and management.

When asked in the aftermath of the 1:16 to 1:11 victory in Newry, Horan - now in his second spell in charge of Mayo - laughed when asked if there were any problems in the camp, he said: "Absolutely nothing, not a thing."

O'Connor, was expected to make his return in Newry, but was a notable absentee from the match-day squad, after recovering from injury.

Horan said that he will be training this week and is expected to meet up with the team "on Wednesday". The reason for his absence was given as he "needs to get his fitness up. So he'll be training very hard, pushing for inclusion next weekend."

He added that "it's great that he's back. He had a bad injury, he's working with a great medical crew so he's just trying to get him back.

"He was out for a number of months. James Carr also is very close, there's around five players in contention."

Mayo will be in Monday's Round 3 qualifier draw, and will face another team that came through from Round 2.

Last year, they exited the All-Ireland Championship at the Round 3 stage following the 'Newbridge or Nowhere' debacle, after their game against Kildare had originally been fixed for Croke Park.

The Lilywhites argued they were the first team drawn out and insisted they have home advantage at St Conleth's Park. Playing the game in Newbridge helped Kildare to a 21 points to 19 win over Mayo last June and went on to feature in the Super 8s.

Written by Ben Finnegan.