THE DECISION BY Keith Higgins to concentrate on football this year and not line out for the Mayo hurlers was entirely his own call.
That’s according to Mayo joint manager Noel Connelly, speaking at yesterday’s 2015 Connacht championship launch.
Connelly, who is in charge of the Mayo footballers along with Pat Holmes, said an ultimatum was not handed to the captain to choose football over hurling this year.
Higgins didn’t play for the Mayo hurlers last weekend in their Christy Ring Cup opener, but Connelly said the Mayo management had no involvement in that decision.
Connelly, himself a former Mayo skipper, said he would never stand in the way of anyone wanting to represent their county, but that playing both codes is next to impossible these days.
Higgins was handed the captaincy this year for the first time and Connelly thinks that added responsibility, along with Higgins turning 30 earlier this year, meant he reached the decision off his own bat.
“To be fair, while we are not disappointed he is not playing both codes, we would not stop a player from playing for their county,” said Connelly.
“We would say at this stage of his life a weekend of two codes was too much for him. The decision was his. He could play if he had the desire, but he is now captain of our team I think he feels one code is maybe enough for him at this time.
“Keith is 30 years of age and captain of our team and instrumental to our plans. (In the past) he could play two games, hurling one day and club football the next day and come back.
“Keith at this stage in his career has managed to do that quite well but in the last couple of years I think Keith probably realised that one code is enough for him.”
Originally published at 11.45
what an inspirational guy. a credit to his club an county. A definite manager in the making.
I was at the match on sunday and im from mayo and i left croke park with pride at being from mayo and the way these lads played on sunday…they could have given up like many times mayo did before but they faught till the end…I think had Andy Moran been playing on sunday this would have been a different game and lets hope he makes a good recovery and is back for next year as i think mayo have a good chance in taking the sam home in the next 1-3 years with this team….!!
the first 2 goals was devastating. and i thought this is it watch the heads go down as in the past.. but no, they didnt they played and played trying to win , till the last second.. very proud day . unlucky lads. looking at this team ,management, not we can win it..we will win it..plan to the future, other teams will be scared to play them, with their fighting , never say die spirit. hold your heads up lads.. you played a blinder.