Barrett hopes Connacht can learn from Mayo’s heroics

As Connacht gets its United Rugby Championship (URC) season underway this Friday against the Stormers, one player will take great encouragement from Mayo’s All-Ireland heroics.

Tighthead prop Fiachna Barrett from Geesala was in Croke Park as Mayo ended their 75-year wait for an All-Ireland title with victory over Kerry.

A day many thought they would never see, it did not take long for Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster to take what Mayo did and attempt to implement it into Connacht’s game.

“The day after the game, everyone was in such a good mood. Stuart used some clips from the Mayo game, showing their mentality, and that they all back the system and trust the process. We have to learn a thing or two from that.

“He knew bits about the story from Mayo and how we hadn’t won in so long. [Connacht] won the PRO 12 ten years ago, but there is still a similar feeling as that group has left, so we are in a similar boat, none of us have won silverware.

“He was showing how there was ups and downs, they lost some games, but they backed the system, the young lads stepped up like Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne, and saying to us you have to do the same, and hopefully we will get the same result.” 

Backing youth was key to Connacht’s turnaround last season, with the likes of Barrett, his former Ballina clubmate Harry West, Billy Bohan, John Devine, and Sean Naughton showing the future is bright in the West.

At Leinster, Lancaster was key to progressing the careers of Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour, Hugo Keenan, Gary Ringrose, Andrew Porter, and Dan Sheehan.

For the Mayo prop, he knows if he performs, the opportunities will be there.

“Every young lad knows if you play well enough and train well enough in the ‘A’ games and stuff, you will get your chance.

“It is about taking your chance when you get them because with Stuart, you will get them. He backs young lads to the hilt. It is just about being ready when you get it.

“Luckily enough, I got a good few chances last year. Hopefully there will be more this year. Seeing the likes of Sam Illo and Billy Bohan being capped for Ireland, it is a huge motivation for all the young lads.” 

It was a difficult start for Connacht last season, with Lancaster’s system taking its time to gel. However, the second half of the season told a different story, with wins in South Africa and at home to Munster helping Connacht to the play-offs, and securing Champions Cup rugby.

The season came to an end away to Glasgow in the quarter-finals, with Barrett claiming the home win against the Scottish side was a turning point for the side.

“At the start of the year we were trying to learn Stuart’s system. It was clicking in bits, but we were probably lacking that bit of consistency.

“After New Year, we had a bit of rocky start, but we had Zebre away, and we waited until the 80th minute for the bonus-point try. That was a bit of a turning point and shifted the mentality.

“The next game was the Glasgow game, and we showed from thereon in that the mentality was in the right place and we were able to show it for the rest of the season.”