Stephen Coen pictured at the EirGrid All Ireland under 21 final launch.
In this week’s ‘My Club’ feature, Mayo’s All Ireland winning under 21 captain, Stephen Coen, tells us all about Hollymount-Carramore.
Formed five years ago Hollymount-Carramore will operate in the Mayo Senior Football Championship in 2016.
Hollymount-Carramore enjoyed a hugely productive spell last year winning County and Connacht Intermediate football titles.
Then in February, 2016 Hollymount-Carramore were defeated in the All Ireland Intermediate final by Kerry outfit St. Mary's.
Back in 2011 a decision was taken that Hollymount and Carramore would compete together at adult level.
Previously underage players from Hollymount and Carramore lined out for St Gerard’s, who were a respected outfit from under 14 to under 21 level.
Hollymount, Mayo senior champions in 1990, 1991, and 1994, were founded in 1954, and Carramore re-formed in 1975.
For more information on Hollymount-Carramore, log onto the club's official website http://www.hollymountcarramoregaa.com/
Stephen Coen captained Mayo to All Ireland under 21 glory.
Q: An interesting thing about your club is that it isn't too old?
A: No, it was founded in 2011. We have put a lot of hard work in during the last four or five years. We've had a successful enough 12 months, we will be just trying to improve on that this year now hopefully.
Q: You played at underage level together so why did it take so long to get it all sorted?
**A: **Yeah, we would have played together at underage level. I suppose it just took time to get things sorted. Thankfully it all came together in 2011, a lot of good players came together at that time. I think we have a lot of guys at their peak now so we are bearing the fruit of the decision.
Q: Have you other family involved?
**A: **I've five cousins playing.
Q: When was the first time you walked through the gates to play?
A: Our combined team was called St. Gerard's. It started for me at under 8s the same as any other young lad. I can remember playing football with my friends all of the way up. This year is my final year at under 21 with the club so I'm looking forward to keep playing with my friends.
Q: What is the area like? What sort of pick do you have in the club?
A: We are from a rural area, but it is a big enough parish. I suppose we would have been smaller years ago, but thankfully we've come together so we have a big enough pick now. We are after going up to senior level so we will try to progress there.
Q: Can you recall any particular mentors early on that had a big impact on you?
A: The likes of Noel Connelly and Ray Connelly, them sort of guys had a lot of experience playing football with Mayo. Some of my cousins would have played underage for Mayo so I would have looked at them all the way through. They've helped me progress in my underage football so far.
Ray played corner back for us, he was magnificent, brilliant. He started nearly every game in the Championship, he was one of our better players. He put shame on some of the young lads when we were training. He is a great ambassador for our club, it just shows what football is really about.
Hollymount-Carramore before the All Ireland Intermediate decider at Croke Park.
Q: They are the type of guys that are needed in every club?
A: Yeah, he was a driving force. He is a guy with so much experience, he is always in the right place at the right time. People might think that is luck, but it is just him being a very clever footballer. He really aided our success, thankfully he was with us.
Q: Did you have much success at underage level?
**A: **We would have won County League titles at under 16 and minor. We are used to a small bit of success with our friends. Thankfully that has stood to us.
Q: Getting to the All Ireland final must have been some journey?
A: It was unbelievable. I'm very young yet so I haven't been on too many journeys, but it probably was the most enjoyable journey. You were playing with family and friends, guys you grew up with. You got to spend a few months with them. It is something you mightn't get to do when you are involved with county set-ups, you don't get to train with them too often. It was very enjoyable, to see the boys play in Croke Park was a very proud day for everyone. To take to the pitch with them was unbelievable.
Q: It helped cement the club?
A: I suppose it proves why we came together. It made so much sense to do it. When you saw 35 fellas warming up in Croke Park and the whole parish there to support them, days like that don't come around too often for any club. Thankfully we had a bit of sense and proved it was the right thing to do.
Q: Would you have been rivals?
A: No because we would have grown up together playing underage together. That transition was very simple, it was inevitable that it was going to happen. It was easy for us to gel, it wasn't hard for anyone to get to know each other. We have played together since we were kids.
Q: Who are your cousins on the team?
A: Darren Coen is my cousin, Mark is in the squad. Ian Costello, Kevin Costello, and Dermot Costello too so there are six of us involved all from the Coen side. It was a great feeling to take the field with them. My family were very proud, it was a great few months for them.
Q: Did your dad play for the club?
A: My dad and two uncles played for Hollymount, they won two or three county titles. That meant they had an interest in football, that bred into us then. Thankfully we have followed that tradition.
Q: Club football in Mayo is very strong?
A: It is very strong, you have Ballintubber, Breaffy, Castlebar, Knockmore, Crossmolina, Ballina. Those teams had a lot of success in the past. It will be hard for us going to senior, but our aim is to try to hopefully be competing with them sort of teams. Hopefully we can.
We are situated between Ballinrobe and Claremorris. Garrymore would be a local club beside us, Davitts and Claremorris. The four teams including us would all have good matches between one another.
Q: Is it a footballing heartland?
A: It is yeah, and everyone gets on well with each other. I'm best friends with guys playing in them clubs. When it comes to the pitch it is very honest, of course everyone is looking for the bragging rights.
Q: How has the senior league gone for you so far?
**A: **We've played two senior league games and we have won the two of them. We played senior league last year and we did okay in the league. The big game is when we play Ballintubber in the Championship. We are in a really tough group with Charlestown and Aghamore too. They've strong senior teams so they have a bit of experience over us, but we will have to battle through that.
Hollymount-Carramore were beaten in the All Ireland Intermediate club final at Croke Park in February.
Q: Have you a pretty young team?
**A: **We've got a good mix. Ray has retired, he is a selector now. We would have some guys maybe 32 or 33 and then we would have a lot of guys around 19, 20, 21 and then a nice core in the middle about 26 or 27. We have a nice balance I think.
In football you are only passing through. We had our club dinner dance recently, Darragh O'Se spoke at it, he said it is very important to be bullish in terms of wanting to be successful. He said you only get a few chances at winning things so when things are going well make the most of it.
That is what we are trying to do.
Q: Has the club energised the whole area?
A: Definitely, the way the local area got behind us for that final was massive. It was massive for our underage because it gave them a great focus. Towns beside us play rugby and soccer. To think that they might have a chance to play in Croke Park in the future is massive.