Mayo forward Cillian O'Connor pictured ahead of Sunday's Allianz Football League opener against Galway.
By Cian O’Connell
Things change quickly in inter-county football. More than a decade in the green and red jersey ensures Cillian O’Connor enters every new season fully aware that there will be significant change.
In recent years, though, Mayo have lost several key performers through retirement. Brendan Harrison, Kevin McLoughlin, and Jason Doherty departed from the Mayo scene this winter.
During the past few campaigns other footballers have emerged and developed. So, reporting back for training is a challenge that must be embraced according to the Ballintubber clubman. “It is fresh and it is exciting,” O’Connor says.
“I think every team is always in transition. You'd very rarely have two panels that would stay the same, 36 from one year to the next. Every year I've played there has always been a little bit of turnover, maybe more so in the last couple of years.
“It is brilliant, you are seeing lads joining the panel, who you would have seen U14 and U16 as prospects. Now they are inter-county seniors, it is great. It brings a great energy.”
That type of drive and desire is needed during the tough weeks of training when matches are in the distance.
Now the games are set to arrive thick and fast in the Allianz Football League, commencing with a trip to Salthill on Sunday when Mayo face Galway.
“Exactly, pre-season is always tough by its nature, but you just have to try to enjoy it, get through it,” O’Connor responds. “Games are finally here after the FBD, so we are looking forward to the action.”
O’Connor acknowledges the rich contribution made by Harrison, McLoughlin, and Doherty. “Three unbelievable servants to Mayo football,” O’Connor says.
“Owed the team and the county absolutely nothing. Brendan and me would have came through the same underage teams and would have been fairly close. An absolute nightmare to mark in training for years and years.
The experienced Cillian O'Connor remains an influential figure for Mayo. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
“What he would have done away from the lights and away from matchday and the media, in terms of getting his body right, particularly for the last few seasons, is superhuman stuff that nobody will probably ever know.
“Kevin and Jason, their footballing quality as well speaks for itself. They'll be sorely missed, but that's just the nature of sport. Obviously wish the lads all the best for the next phase.
“It opens up opportunities for other players, and there's already loads of fellas scrapping it out for positions.”
O’Connor knows all about that element, having made his senior debut back in 2011. As the years have progressed, has O’Connor naturally just assumed more of a leadership role in the set-up? “I enjoy it,” O’Connor says.
“I don't think age necessarily dictates whether you're a leader or not. There are guys in the panel, of all ages, who have those qualities and have developed them over a couple of years.
“Lads have captained schools teams, U20s teams, minor teams, so there are plenty of voices across the squad of different ages. If somebody comes to me for a steer or for a question or two, I do enjoy helping lads.”
The Championship format adopted in 2023 means valuable lessons were learned by those involved. “Definitely, it was all new,” O’Connor replies.
“Obviously, we knew what the format was at the beginning of last year, you plan as best you can. You definitely learn more from being in it, being in the season with the fixtures coming thick and fast.
“There are definitely learnings there for us that I'm sure, probably at a higher level than us. As players, you are just always trying to knock lumps out of each other, week to week in training, trying to get on the team.
“I'm sure management, S&Cs and stuff in the background, they will have learned from last year.”
