Mayo footballer Darren McHale pictured at the launch of the Connacht SFC. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Darren McHale kept persevering.
A stint with Mayo in 2016 was followed by three years away from the senior inter-county set-up. McHale wanted to get back in with the green and red.
So, he focused on contributing for Knockmore and the Mayo call arrived again. Was there a stage when McHale think he mightn't be involved at the highest level again? "You always have doubts," McHale responds.
"I was involved with Stephen (Rochford) in 2016 and then I had three years out when I wasn’t involved. Back in from 2020 onwards. Those few years, you just try get back in there. Try show you deserve another shot."
McHale worked hard at club level. "Obviously, you focus on your club when not with the county, you do want to perform best of your ability and if that brings a county call, so be it," he says.
Mayo's Darren McHale in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Busy preparing for Sunday's Connacht SFC clash against Sligo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, McHale acknowledges that it can be demanding for players on the fringes of county panels. "It is a challenging place to be, of course, because everyone puts in the same amount of work, but it is not a cliché to say those lads are just as important as your top scorers or the player who plays every minute," he says.
"Everyone is pushing hard. To be fair in our panel, the starting team and 26 have been changing so much. It is not a 15 man game. It is a 40 man thing really, or whatever it is, 38. It is challenging when you are out there, but it is just a matter of keep plugging away and hope you get positive rewards."
Undoubtedly, there is a commitment involved, but representing Mayo matters deeply to McHale. "It is a privilege and honour to be in here," he says.
"Obviously, it is a commitment, but it is an honour to be able to take that commitment on. I think it is one of the things in life, it is such a positive environment to be in, the group is so aligned, there is not many things in life where you get that full alignment, everyone going to max out their potential.
"There is massive power to that. I don’t know how many club players are in a county, but everyone would love a shot at it. Overall, it is a big commitment, but it is something you do with a great amount of pride."
