A Cora Staunton comeback could revitalise Mayo - Nadine Doherty

Cora Staunton could still do a job for Mayo, believes former Donegal star Nadine Doherty.

The 41-year-old confirmed her retirement from the AFLW after seven seasons on Monday but said she would continue to play football for her club Carnacon.

Staunton last appeared for Mayo in 2018, her 23rd season in Green and Red, when she was one of a dozen players who left the panel in acrimonious circumstances.

The four-time All-Ireland winner said later that year she didn't see herself playing for the county again.

But following the news that Stephen Cluxton, almost three months older than Staunton, is back with Dublin, Doherty suggests Mayo should be knocking on her door.

"I was asking Fiona McHale during the week, 'Any chance of Cora doing a Cluxton now?," Doherty told 2fm's Game On. "The shape that Cora is in, why not?

"I know mentally she closed that door and it was a really difficult time. But Fiona McHale went back, Sarah Tierney went back. A lot of those players [who left] have.

"It’s very much a changed Mayo squad. And she’s in serious shape. Mayo aren't lighting the world up at the minute. They're probably lacking a bit of leadership up front.

"It would be an interesting one and you’d love to see it."

Are Mayo competitive enough to tempt Cora back?

Doherty suggests a more even playing field this year means an All-Ireland challenge would not be too far-fetched.

"Across the board, it’s probably going to be the most even championship it has been in a long time.

"We don’t have a Cork or a Dublin a million miles away from anybody. The current All-Ireland champions [Meath] are really struggling. Kerry are going well but they haven’t won anything, Galway the same.

"I know Mayo came third from bottom in the league but they’re probably the team