Callinan: New rules can play to Mayo’s strengths

Sam Callinan is preparing for another busy schedule in 2025.

The dynamic Mayo and Ballina Stephenites defender is an ambassador for this season’s Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education and Camogie Third Level Championships which he helped launch last week, despite what a weather-disrupted opening round of fixtures.

Callinan, a student at University College Dublin, spoke ahead of his side’s Friday night victory over University College Cork, which had been refixed for Enniscorthy having foul of the conditions last Tuesday. He gave an insight into his thoughts on the new inter-county rules, as well as the current Mayo setup of which he is entering his fourth season.

“It’s hard to make judgment on the new rules until we see them in the heat of battle,” said Callinan, who sat out Mayo’s recent challenge game against Monaghan at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

“I do think there is a lot more kicking in it and there is a lot more space in the middle third. That will benefit the pace of the game and will create more scoring opportunities. It should be more free-flowing which can only be a good thing.” 

The 21-year-old, who is in the third year of his Economics and Finance course, sustained a broken ribs injury while playing for Ballina Stephenites in their Connacht senior club football semi-final defeat to Coolera-Strandhill which ruled him out for several weeks.

“I had four broken ribs from the game but, thankfully, it is all fully healed now,” he explained.

Speaking about Ballina’s loss to the Sligo champions last November, he said: “I was on the way to hospital so I couldn’t watch the rest of the game. It wasn’t great viewing on social – seeing it go to penalties – especially knowing you can’t be out there to help.” 

When asked about his overall opinion of penalties as a method of deciding GAA matches, Callinan also thought back to Mayo’s defeat to Derry in the All-Ireland Championship preliminary quarter-final last year and added: “Maybe I’m biased as we have come out the wrong side of them twice, but I’m not sure it’s the best way to decide a football game. It’s a cruel way to lose and no matter how much you practice them, it all comes down to the day.” 

Fully recovered from his broken ribs, it was actually a minor toe injury that ruled Sam Callinan out of that two points loss to Monaghan last Saturday week, but he is back in training and assures he is ready to fight for a place on Kevin McStay’s team this year.

“We have fallen short the last two seasons but last year we were within a kick of a ball from beating Dublin and a kick of a ball from winning the Connacht final against Galway, who were beaten All-Ireland finalists. We have a very strong team and a young core that we can develop and grow. There is no reason not to be optimistic going into this season, it is a wide-open competition, especially with the new rules, and I think it plays to our strengths in Mayo.” 

Callinan, who made his National Football League in 2022 when still a student at St Muredach’s College, has been an ever-present for the Green and Red since making his senior inter-county championship debut in May 2023 against Kerry.

“Anywhere you can get a Mayo starting jersey, you take it – it is a privilege to be in the line-up. With the new rules it is a bit different, as I would've always combined attacking with defending so that does take a bit of adjusting to. You are more defensive-minded or attacking-minded, depending on whether you are in the full-back or half-back line.” 

Speaking about the experienced Mayo members who have stepped away from the panel, in particular forward Cillian O’Connor and his own Ballina Stephenites teammate Padraig O’Hora, Callinan said: “I was up and down the road with Cillian a lot and he is flat out with work so it is understandable. I completely respect their decision to go. They will be missed but there is plenty of young talent coming in. The lads are only a phone call away if anyone is looking for a bit of advice – they are great like that.” 

Mayo begin their Division 1 league campaign against Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday, January 25 – an outing which Callinan described as a “prime fixture”.

“I love going out playing Dublin, in my eyes they are still the pinnacle of Gaelic football teams. Any chance you get to play in Croker you have to savour it. We’re looking forward to it.”