Injection of youth inspires Castlebar Mitchels ahead of London mission

AS Castlebar Mitchels begin their Connacht adventure, stalwart Paddy Durcan feels an injection of youth into the team has really helped this season.

He explained: “We are delighted to have gotten over the line (in the county final). I was very lucky in my first couple of years coming onto the scene with Mitchels that we were competing in finals.

"We now have a great injection of youth. Over the course of the Mayo club competition, I felt that it was a very good championship, and there were a lot of young players making an impression.”

Mitchels now face a tricky away assignment against London side Fulham Irish in Ruislip tomorrow (1 p.m.) in the Connacht semi-final.

Durcan is hoping that his team can perform and qualify for the final.

“It will be a very unique experience. In any of our previous runs in the club championship we never encountered any of the London teams. It will also be a unique experience for the Irish and Mayo diaspora in London.

“After we won the Mayo championship, that night there were people booking flights and accommodation. Games like that can bind our club together and it will be a huge memory for people to have.

"For us as players, we want to put in a performance and hopefully get through to the final.”

The Connacht senior club championship is highly competitive and a Mayo club hasn't won it since 2015.

It was Mitchels who captured it that year, capturing their fourth provincial title overall. It makes them the most successful Mayo club in terms of Connacht titles, though as of yet they haven't added the All-Ireland.

The provincial competition is special too, according to Durcan. “I was lucky to play have previously played in four provincial club championships,” he said.

“They are some of the best days you can experience in a club jersey, especially in the All-Ireland series. The club championships are a class competition, and we are definitely going to give it the best rattle that we can, and we are very much looking forward to it.

“We always try to put our best foot forward in that competition and we had relative success. Back then (2010s) you were coming up against the likes of Corofin, who were one of the best club teams, and we had massive battles against them over the years. And we also faced St. Brigid’s during those years.

“You see the quality of teams that have come out from other counties this year and it will be a huge task for us, but we will tackle it head-on and give it our best shot.”

Durcan said that this this year's county medal with Mitchels – his fifth overall – is probably the sweetest of all.

“It was very special to win a county title with my brothers, James and Mark. That is what club football is all about. It was our first time winning a county medal on the same team, and my fifth medal is probably the sweetest one.”