By Cian O'Connell

“It’s nice to be at home," Stephen Coen says about the radically different build up to the 2020 All Ireland SFC Final.

Coen has featured in national deciders at every level for the green and red, but studying and researching from his house reduces the football talk considerably.

"I remember in previous finals I was working in the bank in Castlebar during the summer," Coen recalls.

"People came into the bank not to do business, but to talk about the games so at home here with the animals, they don’t talk back.

"That way you can control your own thoughts and save a lot of energy that way.

That has a massive bearing on prep for every game and is one big difference this year.”

It has been an encouraging spell for James Horan's team, who have outfoxed Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, and Tipperary thus far.

An emerging crop of footballers have injected optimism alongside the established campaigners. Coen is part of the middle crop, the minor and Under 21 crew of 2013 and 2016.

“That sums it up well," Coen responds. "Every one of those three groups has different learnings and experiences and when you blend it together it’s actually brilliant for the group.

"Between defeat and success and not much experience there’s a lot of good lessons there on how to deal with different situations and being positive, resilient and even naïve, in a good way because it’s a great blend.

“The younger lads just go in and go for it – throw off the shackles and older guys who have great experience of really big games, which will really stand to us.

"We’ve learned a lot from the younger and older guys and hopefully it will go well for us.”

Mixing all those players together is a challenge, especially during an unprecedented time with social restrictions.

"I suppose we had pre-the pandemic, and once we came back," Coen says.

"We would have been in contact through Zoom and Microsoft Teams like we are here now. So lads would be on the phone to each other, ringing back and forth, especially we made a conscious decision throughout the year, guys you wouldn't normally chat to, to get to know them.

"That's happened a lot. What I've been impressed with, is young guys picking up the phone and ringing up older fellas.

"Sometimes, I know when I was younger, it might have been an intimidating thing to do, not because anyone was ignorant or anything like that.

"Just because they were older and more established. And you were like 'Jesus, this fella mightn't even want to talk to me'. But it was great. Lads go out of their way to get to know each other.

"You know you have so much time, but you've got to make the most of it, whether you're aware or together.

"So get to know each other, having that togetherness is extremely important in order for a team to be successful.

"We're aware of that. So anything we can to be in contact, whether it's over the phone or face-to-face, we've been doing it."

That has also helped Mayo on the field of play and Coen is optimistic about the future.

“I think the big thing is that we’re focusing on ourselves, we’re trying to improve all the time," Coen remarks.

"We’ve got a lot of new players who are extremely exciting and don’t even think about results or the next game or two weeks’ time, they’re just thinking of the now.

"Very much in the present and I think we’re all in that mindset at the minute so we’re going to focus on every 30 seconds and every minute of the game, break it down in those those small little minute details.

"I suppose get the most out of ourselves for the 70 minutes and I think we did a lot of good things right the last day and if we can do that more often for the 70 minutes I think it’ll bode well for us."

During his time in UCD, Coen enjoyed operating with a talented team including Dublin forward Con O'Callaghan.

"Yeah, he's a super player," Coen comments. "Great attitude. Very good fella. He just wants to do well in football, and to constantly improve. He's very honest, and obviously filled with skill and talent and speed and power. An excellent player, but a guy I would have been friendly with.

"There'd be very strong mutual respect amongst each other. We would have had good fun throughout the Sigerson time. We played together for three, four years. I know he was playing with Cuala for a few years as well.

"So that kind of got in the way. But we finished on a very positive note, we would stay in contact the odd time. Just a great fella, and I'm just looking forward to playing against him the next day."

Coen has earned his place in the Mayo team and becoming a regular starter counts deeply.

“I’m definitely enjoying the sustained run," Coen admits. "Everyone wants to play so I’m really enjoying that and I appreciate the trust that’s been given to me. 

"I’ve really enjoyed it, I think everyone enjoys playing for Mayo no matter if it’s for two minutes or for 70 minutes. Yeah, I’m building in confidence, working really hard. 

"Thanks to coaches, teammates I’ve learned a lot this year. I suppose I have a good bit of experience now, good and bad, so just hope that I can help the team out and work hard for the team."

Having captained Mayo to All Ireland glory at minor and Under 21, Coen reflects back on the early part of his senior career. Was significant pressure felt back then?

"Not from that point of view, but more from I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to make the team when I came in straight away at 18 years of age," Coen replies. 

"I probably got frustrated that I wasn’t playing which is only natural for something like that to happen. 

"But it probably bothered me for a good while and I had to come to terms with that. 

"In terms of previous successes and roles I played in them, no I didn’t feel that pressure, no one expected that of me, no one expected me to be this massive leader or anything like that because they already had great leaders in the team anyway. 

"As you go on you learn from others, guys are very forthcoming and there’s little nuggets here and there.  So yeah I’ve learned a lot since I started playing and I have a lot more to learn, I’m enjoying it."