'Let the ball do the talking' says Mayo GAA captain Jack Coyne

For Ballyhaunis man Jack Coyne Sunday’s match was a special occasion: His first as Mayo captain.

“I'm definitely happy with the win,” the All-Star nominee said after the hard-fought win over Sligo: “We finished the game really strong. In the last ten minutes, we really came into it. A few of the younger lads stepped up in the last few minutes as well. It's a great start for the year. A win in Charlestown, a home game for us is great.”

The season-opener was the first Mayo match in Charlestown since 2009. Back then, it was a National League match against Westmeath. Seventeen years later, Mayo made a successful return.

Asked, how he found out that he would be the new Mayo captain, Coyne stated that it was pretty simple:
“Andy just came to me, we had one of the trainings, and he informed me that he thought I'd be a good captain for the year. A huge honour for myself, my family, my friends, to be asked to represent this group. The group means so much to me and to get that job is a huge honour. I'm really looking forward to the year ahead.”

Life under a new management regime has shaken things up a bit: “Everyone is chomping at the bit here to impress the management. The younger lads came in there and made a big impression today. It's a clean slate for everyone. There's no jerseys given out yet. We all have to earn them every day in training and every day on the pitch.” 

Coyne himself came on just about before half-time alongside Stephen Coen and they had a bit of work to do. Sligo were in front at that stage, but Mayo staged a comeback from five points down to get the win.

“It's kind of a testament to the group that this is a competitive game we want to win. The FBD is something we want to win. We knew that this was an important game for the group. We said, this is the one to win. So, we dug in and had a good chat with the lads at half-time. We just brought it back to basics. Hard work, energy, got the breaking ball battle under control, and then again, probably the legs in the last ten minutes.”

Coyne summed up the recipe for success in the final 15 minutes: “I think it's move the ball. You see some of the players we have, the likes of Ryan O'Donoghue, these guys, if we move the ball, they're very hard to defend one-on-one. I know it myself. Let the ball do the talking, kick it as far as you can and hopefully win it. So, it's simple, but it's effective.”

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