Double glory would be fitting end to Durcan’s dream year

Even from the highest of highs on Sunday, July 26, there was never any danger of Paddy Durcan losing focus when it came back to club matters.

The 32-year-old, who was part of All-Ireland final defeats in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021, banished them all to history to collect an elusive Celtic Cross. The legendary celebrations that followed since meant the focus and preparations for players returning from Mayo duty were a lot different than coming back from previous All-Ireland finals.

But returning to a different reality was not as difficult for Paddy Durcan as one might imagine.

“I think I said this before but, irrespective of how Mayo goes, your love and desire for playing for your club shouldn’t waver or decrease,” Durcan told the Western People. “Obviously look, given the magnitude of maybe the week we had after the All-Ireland in terms of being out and about, it wasn’t probably the ideal preparation or whatnot, but in terms of the desire to play for the club, that's going to be there whether Mayo win All-Irelands or don't.” 

Next Sunday’s Mayo SFC final is a repeat of Mitchels’ group stage clash with Garrymore, where Durcan’s county teammates Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession were part of the Garrymore side that defeated Mitchels on the evening. The defender is expecting another tight battle but is very pleased with the way that Mitchels have responded since that loss, which included navigating a potentially tricky quarter-final away to Aghamore and a semi-final derby with Breaffy.

“I thought [Garrymore] were deserving winners on the night. They were better than us. I was very impressed with them, and look, they've obviously been unbeaten to date.

“They're going very well so it's going to be huge challenge for ourselves but we’re delighted, I suppose, on the back of that night. I suppose our aim was to win the quarter-final, just the next game in front of us, we got over that, then to the semi-final and look we're back in a position now where we give ourselves a chance to win it.

“[Aghamore] was a massive dogfight, no more than the semi-final. I suppose coming on the back of a loss, it was a real test of character for ourselves, having to go on the road as well, way down to Aghamore.

“Obviously they had a very strong record there at home so that was a huge battle and a great one to come through, as it was down in Charlestown a couple of weeks ago as well.

“[Against Breaffy], we got a good first-half that put us in a good position and you know especially given the black card and just a bit of adversity and stuff like that, a couple of injuries.

“Second half, I don't think we would have been overly happy with the way we played, being honest with you, but in the main semi-finals are for winning and we did that, so that was the ultimate aim and we achieved it.” 

It is a much changed squad since the last Mayo SFC final appearance for Castlebar Mitchels in 2017, where they completed a three-in-a-row as well as a fourth Moclair Cup in five years.

Durcan is one of the few survivors from that team who won in 2017. Indeed, of the men who played in their recent Mayo SFC semi-final win over Breaffy, Paddy, his twin brother James, Rory Byrne, Donie Newcombe, Johnny Maughan and Neil Douglas, are the only men left who started the 2017 Mayo SFC final against Ballintubber.

Now as one of the veterans of the squad, Paddy Durcan is helping to guide the club’s latest crop of talented players. He says he is impressed with how they have stepped up.

“I think the longer you're in it, you know, your job is to try and help fellas along if you can and give that bit of experience. In fairness, we've a good lot of lads there who've been there a number of years and look, they're made of the right character, which is important.

“I'd like to think we try and help where we can, but them young guys are doing their talking on the pitch in the main as well.” 

Similar to Mayo and Andy Moran, Durcan’s relationship with Kevin Filan has changed, with Filan coming towards the end of his playing days when Paddy Durcan was emerging as a Mitchels senior. Durcan believes the qualities that made ‘Filo’ an outstanding servant to Mitchels as a player are helping this panel now during his term as manager.

“He was always a very good fellow, I would say, in terms of uniting a group from a playing point of view,” says Durcan. “Very good craic I would say, doesn't take things ultimately too serious, and I think he brings a lot of it through to a manager's point of view which is which is crucial to be honest with you.

“I think you have to enjoy what you're involved in and I'd say that would be one of his biggest strengths, just the environment he creates.”