Young O’Connor hails the impact of the Mayo supporters
PEPARING for an All-Ireland final throws up a number of challenges, but the youngest of the O’Connor clan has been taking it all in his stride this week, writes John Brennan.
“Personally, last year was my first All-Ireland final so it was all new to me. This year I’m a bit more experienced to deal with the whole occasion, to not let it faze me and treat the game as any other game,” he said.
As Diarmuid heads into his final year studying PE and maths at DCU, he knows there will be some nervous tension, but he feels it is all part of the occasion.
“If you are not nervous before a game there is something wrong. You get a small bit nervous, but nerves are good if you control them in the right way.”
Having your older brother as captain certainly helps with the preparation. “I suppose it is good to have that,” agreed Diarmuid. “He has been there a few years longer than I have, so he would be a bit more experienced in that regard. I’d go to any player as much as I’d go to him (Cillian). We are all comfortable going to each other at this stage.”
It epitomises the strong bond that exists within the group and how they are all striving towards the same goal.
Momentum
Following the defeat to Galway in the Connaught championship back in June, this Mayo side has been steadily gaining momentum - but O’Connor feels it wasn’t always plain sailing along the way.
“There has been a lot of disappointment since then. Obviously, the Clare game was a slow start. It was something we were disappointed by. The Cork game and the way we let them back into the game too. But every game we have taken out what we can and what we can improve on.”
Heading into tomorrow's All-Ireland decider, O’Connor knows that they will have to improve dramatically if they are to send Dublin tumbling.
“I think there are always areas you can improve on,” he observed. “I know that’s a cliché, but you never have the perfect performance. I think this year, more than any other year, there has been a lot of ups and downs. All of us will be looking individually at what we can improve on and tactically how we can improve the team.”
When the Mayo supporters crop up on the agenda, you could sense the pride off O'Connor. “It’s unbelievable. The Mayo supporters are unreal. I think everyone in the country knows that by now.
“They have been through it all, the good times and the bad. They have always been there for the players and it is a huge boost.”