O'Connor excited by emerging talent

December 18, 2017

Mayo's Cillian O'Connor.
©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

Cillian O'Connor is buoyed by Mayo's emerging talent and is convinced they can help keep the county among the leading All-Ireland contenders in the coming years.

With many of their established stars having a lot of miles on the clock, O'Connor says it's imperative that new players put their hands up for selection.

"I was only talking today with a few of the older players about the talent that's out there," the Mayo captain said in an interview with the Western People.

"A few of the lads were at the U21 final, just as one example. There were countless players the lads were impressed by and they were all talking about afterwards. 

"There are loads of minors coming through; there's loads of talent in the minor championship; the Westport team that went on to win the All-Ireland intermediate championship have loads of lads under the age of 23 and 24 who all have huge potential. But that's the way it has to be. The wheel has to keep turning.

"The people that are there a few years need to feel a bit of pressure. They need to feel like people are coming to take their jersey because if you don't have that, you're going nowhere.

"We need to get the best footballers in the county in the squad, and those who aren't in it need to be bursting down the door to get in and take jerseys. That's a healthy way to have it."

 


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