Mayo's Diarmuid O’Connor returns to where it all began
DIARMUID O’Connor is looking forward to returning to Gaelic Park for Mayo’s first round championship clash with New York.
“New York may have come just a little too soon for me,” said the back-to-back Young Footballer of the Year (2015-16) when interviewed at the launch of the Connaught Football Championship at the Centre of Excellence in Bekan. He was not named in the match day squad announced yesterday.
The hamstring injury he suffered in the early stages of the clash against Tyrone in the National League is not quite sufficiently repaired to get the nod from his medical team to allow the Ballintubber man to be risked given the more demanding challenges that lie ahead, if, as expected, they advance to a semi-final meeting with Roscommon.
The famed Gaelic Park in New York has a special significance for Diarmuid as that is where he made his senior debut for Mayo all of 10 years ago at the age 19.
He was delighted to be called up by then manager James Horan whose attention was drawn to Diarmuid who had been leaving his mark as a minor the previous year.
“I was delighted to be called into the panel but when James Horan called me aside and told me I would be starting, well I’d have to say it was one of the highlights of my career and one I will always cherish,” he said.
To mark his debut Diarmuid‘s name was on one of the goals Mayo scored in a game they won fairly convincingly (4-18 to 0-8) and that scoreline is not surprising given the quality of that particular team which included Rob Hennelly, Lee Keegan, Keith Higgins, Aidan O’Shea, Jason Doherty, Kevin McLoughlin, Andy Moran, and, of course Dairmuid’s older brother, Ciliian, who finished with 2-5, both his goals coming from the penalty spot.
Diarmuid went on to claim his first senior Connaught senior medal as Mayo beat Galway in the final, saw off Cork in the quarterfinal of the All-Ireland series to make the All-Ireland semi-final where they lost in extra-time in a replay to Kerry, that semi-final controversially moved from Croke Park to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
It was the start of a senior career that has spanned some 10 years and there is lot more left in the tank as this man’s enthusiasm for the game has not waned in the slightest.
He is anxious to get back playing and is hopeful his return will be sooner rather than later.
“Of course I’d love to be playing (this weekend). New York is a special place. It is really unique when you play in front of your travelling supporters and all those who live over in New York and beyond who want to see us play.
“It is a special place and there is really no other championship venue like it, but I doubt if I will be ready for it just yet.”
Leitrim’s defeat to New York last year serves as a note of caution but Diarmuid is adamant that Mayo always take opposition very seriously, be it the so-called weaker teams such as London or New York.
“We will prepare as we would for any game. All we can do is look after our own game and that applies to any opposition,” he said.
His one regret is that his football this season has been limited as he wasn’t back for the early league games and to add to his woes he was only back when he picked up the hamstring injury.
“My absence gives others the chance to stake their claim and one of the big positives from the league has been the number of new players that have been tried out and I think that is really positive ahead of the championship,” he said.
He has no major issues with the compacted season which sees a lot of games coming in quick succession, nor is he worried that Roscommon will have that four-week break ahead of their anticipated semi-final clash with Mayo.
Mayo’s route in Connaught is slightly different to last year but Roscommon and Galway are hurdles that are likely to present the biggest challenge if they are to win the Nestor Cup and that is the route Kevin McStay is planning.
“I know we had to play Roscommon within a week of winning the National League last year but, to be honest, I would prefer to have won the league again this year.
“I know there are different opinions about the importance of the league but it is a great competition and to be honest I’m disappointed we didn’t make it through to the final but our focus will be the same as last year and prepare as best as we can,” he said.
He added: “It is through the league games that we learn more about ourselves and to be honest I am a little disappointed that we didn’t make the league final.
“We want to win every game we play and that is the philosophy of the management.”
He doesn’t think they have extra motivation when, as widely expected, they face Roscommon, the team that knocked them out of the Connaught championship last year.
“That is only short-term motivation. What we must do is work on our own motivation in areas we can improve on and how we can improve as a team. Every game is all about learning more about ourselves,” he said.
Asked about where Mayo stand as a force in 2024 following their fourth place finish on the league table he agreed that some of the league games were patchy enough.
“I think we would all accept there is a lack of consistency in our performances and that is going to be key for us in 2024 - getting a more consistent game together, but I think there are some good players who have come through and I feel that consistency will come if we can take the lessons we have learned from the league on board and as a result our championship form should improve, but consistency is key to how we will do this year.”
The biggest challenge for Diarmuid is getting back to where he was and take up the role he has played for the team which is somewhere between the half-backline, midfield and the attack. He plays everywhere.
As manager Kevin McStay said when asked to name what Diarmuid’s greatest attribute, his response was immediate.
“His work rate is quite simply phenomenal."
We may not see the Ballintubber man grace the Gaelic Park in the Bronx where he made his debut 10 years ago but there is no doubt that Diarmuid O’Connor will be a key player in helping Mayo continue their search for that elusive Celtic Cross.
Time is still on his side.