A portrait of Conor Loftus at Downpatrick Head in Ballycastle. PHOTO: BRENDAN MORAN / SPORTSFILE

Conor Loftus has made seamless transition to Mayo midfield role

MAYO'S first game back after this year's lengthy Covid layoff is a crunch league encounter with Galway in Tuam Stadium.

The Mayo line-up is interesting, to say the least. Among the many noteworthy features was the positioning of Conor Loftus in midfield alongside Matty Ruane.

The general consensus is that he probably won't be operating in the middle; that he will most likely be taking up a more accustomed wing forward position.

But that's not what transpired. Loftus did indeed play in the middle, from where he contributed 1-2 and popped up here, there and everywhere.

He's been a mainstay in the Mayo midfield ever since, through one more league game and three Connaught championship encounters.

Loftus, who played midfield for his club, Crossmolina Deel Rovers, both this year and last, is enjoying his new role in the Mayo team.

"You've a lot of freedom out there. You can probably use your skill set a bit more out there as well.

"It's kinda been a step by step process – I played there with the club, came back (into the Mayo set-up), a couple of the lads were injured or hadn't finished up yet with their clubs, so I got a chance in a few training sessions to go midfield, and luckily enough so far they're sticking with it."

His job, as he sees it, is to add dollops of energy to the second. "I just bring massive work rate around the middle, and bring energy, getting up and down box to box – helping defence one minute when needed and then getting forward and supporting the play, bringing as much work rate as possible."

It has been a learning curve, he admits, but his Mayo team-mates have been quick to help.

He explained: "For me it's getting used to things, like defensively when to drop off or squeeze, different things like that. You've guys behind you, the likes of Chrissy (Barrett), talking to you the whole time, so you've a voice there the whole time.

"You've Stephen Coen talking to you the whole time, some of the boys up top such as Cillian talking the whole time, so you're nearly learning as you're playing.

"It's not just over weeks and weeks; you're kind of learning at different moments during a game, so it's good."

Freedom

For Mayo manager James Horan, switching Loftus into a midfield role has been a welcome positive this year.

"Again it's an outcome of the club championship," he said. "Conor played very, very well with Crossmolina in midfield in a number of games and scored heavy from the middle of the field. It's something we're very aware of.

"We tried him there in a couple of games and it worked very well. He's a really good all round footballer who can play in a number of positions. We're very happy with how things are going.

"Sometimes you play a position and your form mightn't be as good as you want it to be and whatever you try doesn't seem to be working.

"A change of position can give you freedom, especially if you're in a wing position or corner forward. You're near the sideline sometimes so it's more confined.

"In the middle it can be a more open game and you can get on the ball more, so you can dictate where you're trying to win the ball. I think that's an element of it."

Tipperary will bring a new challenge for Loftus and midfield partner Matty Ruane on Sunday. Steven O'Brien and Liam Casey were very good in the air against Cork, so Loftus knows there'll be a battle in that sector in Croker on Sunday.

"Two big midfielders," he noted, adding: "They're good ball players on the ground as well, so it won't just be in the air that we'll be competing with them. I went to college with Steve. He's a powerful, pacy, player, he's a very good player. Looking forward to having a battle with them."

As one of the younger generation of players, but not one of the next generation down who have made their debuts this year, Conor is well placed to see what makes the Mayo camp a bit special this year.

"There's massive competition for places," he said. "The pace and power some of these new guys are bringing, such as Oisín (Mullin) and Eoghan (McLaughlin), is crazy. It's great to have that energy around the place. There's a great buzz and togetherness in the group this year, and you can definitely see that every time you turn up for training.

"I'd say it's a mix of having that new group coming through and then you have all the experienced players and a few of us sandwiched between that, so it's a good mix of everything at the minute."

Ultimately, like everyone else, Conor is hoping that Mayo can end the 69-year wait to bring Sam Maguire back to the county, and he's happy to be part of a team that's bringing joy to people in what has been a bleak year.

"We are kind of hoping if we can keep winning, we're giving them something to enjoy over the winter."