Stephen is staying cool, calm and collected amidst final hype

The experience of an All-Ireland final buildup is nothing new to Stephen Coen, but he has no concerns about Mayo’s exciting young crop getting caught up in it all either. In fact, quite the opposite.

Coen, along with Matthew Ruane, Conor Loftus, Tommy Conroy, Ryan O’Donoghue, Enda Hession and Jordan Flynn, were also on the field for Mayo’s previous All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin in 2021. Indeed, Coen is now preparing for his sixth All-Ireland final, having come off the bench in the 2016 drawn final and replay, again as a substitute in 2017 and as a starter in 2020 and 2021.

For teen stars Darragh Beirne, Kobe McDonald and Eoin McGreal, this will be an experience like no other over the next fortnight but the Hollymount-Carramore man expects those players to lead as much as their established counterparts.

“You wouldn’t notice the guys around the place because they’re very composed young men. No egos, no distractions, very focused,” said Coen last Saturday in the post-match press briefing.

“They’ll be the fellas telling us to do a recovery session tomorrow morning and focus on two weeks’ time, get on Huddle, review the games today. I don't think we'll have any problem there, I’m very happy with the culture of the group.

“Of course, I'll try and give guidance and learnings from the past, but these guys have their own way of doing things as well. We just support them as much as possible and keep going.” 

The idea of an All-Ireland final was a distant one after a heavy loss to Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final. But could even someone as understated as Stephen Coen imagined this scenario?

“I don’t think we would have entered the competition if we didn't think we could be here. Sixteen teams, Division 1, Division 2. There's no difference between anyone, but you have to go and do it.

“Over the next two weeks, we have to go and do that now. We're happy we're in this position.” 

Coen added: “I'd say we've just grown as a team. We fight for each other, back each other up, cover, defend, play the ball into space for guys who have speed and talent, and we're always supporting each other, so I think we've just been very connected over the last seven or eight weeks. Long may that continue.” 

Mayo manager Andy Moran was a bit more effusive in his praise of Coen and the veterans in the panel.

“The likes of Stevie, he was a bit dismissive there of himself. These guys have a huge role. We knew today coming into it, we had the experience in the room that have played in All-Ireland semi-finals. Stevie, Aidan [O’Shea], Diarmuid [O’Connor], they really have the guys moving into that.

“These guys are giving them the freedom, to make a mistake and to not be effed out of it. To say, ‘Okay, listen, we know you've got a good talent, you've a unique talent. Go and use it’.”