DURING A RECENT trip to Chicago, Alan Dillon informed his travelling Mayo team-mates of his intention to retire.
An ever-present in the Mayo panel since making his debut in 2003, the 35-year-old has called time on one of the great careers in the Green and Red. A two-time All-Star and eight-time Connacht medalist, he was one of Mayo’s deadliest forwards for over a decade and a player Aidan O’Shea admired growing up.
“I’d be close to Alan,” says O’Shea. “I work with him and he lives down the road from me as well. I’ve gotten very close to Alan over the last nine or ten years.
“I was in Chicago with him a couple of weeks ago and he would have informed me then that he’d be making his decision. He let the group know this morning before the press release.
“It’s sad to see him go because he’s obviously a really, really good footballer. I looked up to him as a young fella, got to play with him and now obviously a very good friend of his.”
His minutes waned over the past couple of seasons, but one of Dillon’s last great acts came in the 2016 All-Ireland quarter-final against Tyrone.
During that campaign the Red Hand’s Justin McMahon liked to drop off from centre-back to protect his full-back, but Stephen Rochford made the surprise move to pitch in Dillon at 11 for the last eight showdown.
Dillon buzzed around Croke Park, getting on ball after ball to brutally expose Tyrone’s game plan. After 22 minutes, McMahon was called ashore. Tom Parsons was introduced for Dillon as a pre-planned half-time substitute and underdogs Mayo went on to seal the victory.
They say the last thing a boxer loses is his punch, while in Dillon’s case his game intelligence never left him.
“Classy player, one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with and a great passer of a ball, he always spotted things,” says O’Shea.
“A big loss to us, obviously gutted for him that we didn’t get over the line while he was a part of the squad and it’s just sad to see him go.”
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Quality selection! Looking forward to an exciting match at the weekend.
@John Thomas: I might have put Stockdale at 11 myself but I’m just a sofa coach.
@John Thomas: yeah I was hoping he’d get a game too
@John Thomas: he was very poor in Ireland A game. Looks a shadow of his former self but hopefully that’s something he can turnaround with more game time at Ulster
@BMJF: agreed, I was at it and he was so far off the pace and seemed many off his former self. Hopefully it was just an off day and he will show his worth.
@BMJF: Form is temporary, class is permanent.
@John Thomas: Couch or Coach?
@John Thomas: bit surprised he didn’t get a chance myself, unless they don’t feel he is fit. He really looked off the pace in the A game last week.
@Collitov: couch coach works as well.
Belham has to start against Australia now. He made an impact last sat and it would be benefical to see him start a test now
@Justin Flynn: same could be said at scrum half, we all know what JGP can do. Would have had 2 fresh lads in as I can’t see too many changes come 6 nations.
@Mark Sheehan: JGP needs game time before Australia
@BMJF: Australia isn’t the be all and end all, would be good to get a result given the limited amount of games between here and next years World Cup. An injury to either JGP or Murray and you could have a third scrum half with little or no international exposure on the bench during the tournament. JGP showed against South Africa that he is well up to speed.
@Justin Flynn: I think Bealham was extremely lucky with the refs reading of the scrum in Saturday.
@Tipper Irie: I’d actually argue SA we’re foolish for not scrummaging legally they practically went sideways at scrum time driving in. In fairness to bealham the only team that trouble him from an interpro point of view is the Leinster front row. He’s held his own against all the others quite easily
A very nice balance there. Good for the new faces to get experience with quality players like Park, Henshaw and Doris around them.
I’m sure they are managing Doris workload but he is a horse of a man when it comes to effort and leaves everything he has on the pitch….hope we are comfortable enough after 40 mins to rest him. We need all our big guns the following week.
@Michael Murray: yeah starting Doris is a complete head scratcher.
He should be wrapped in cotton wool.
Really happy with that squad. Glad that they didn’t put Sexton on the bench, I feared they might. Also good to see O’Brien play after his performance last week. Delighted that McCloskey is fit, I was sure he’d broken his arm. Henshaw starting is also a big boost ahead of the Australian game. Overall I’m really happy with that match day squad.
Excellent squad, Farrell & Co. keep surpassing themselves.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: delighted for Crowley, who’s the future along with Frawley.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: agreed! I think both of them will move ahead of Carbery in the next season or two. Both very similar players too. In the past when Ireland have had two top out half’s in their squads they’ve usually been quite different style wise. But Frawley and Crowley are both cut from the same cloth.
I would have preferred to see someone else getting time at scrum half, and perhaps Deegan or Prendergast getting a start, but those are minor quibbles.
Great to see Crowley on the bench – hopefully Ireland will be far enough ahead with 20 minutes to go that he can come on to close the game out
@Lesidees: I like the 4 half backs. I might have started Casey with Carberry and held JGP to help Crowley when he came on.