Davitts man back with a bang for Mayo

Back with a bang


Davitts' Michael Conroy will be a key man for the Mayo Junior side

Interview
Rob Murphy

SEVEN years after coming off the bench in an All-Ireland senior final and scoring a goal for Mayo against Kerry at Croke Park, Michael Conroy is now preparing for a Connacht Junior final on Friday evening next.
Speaking to The Mayo News after helping Mayo knock Roscommon out at the semi-final stage recently, the Davitts attacker admitted that he is enjoying juggling his club and county commitments again.
“I’m captain of Davitts and as far as my season goals are concerned, that is my number one priority,” explained the 26 years-old.
“I went down to Mayo junior trials, was impressed with what I saw, and decided to get involved this year. And when I’m playing with them against Sligo in the Connacht final, that’s all that will matter.
“John Kelly, Ray Connelly, Vinny Gavin and Jarlath Cunningham have come in this year and they have freshened things up and made a difference in their own way,” he added.
“Billy Fitz’[patrick] was in there for 20 years and was a tremendous servant to the Juniors, but the lads have taken over now and it’s great to be back in a Connacht final.”
Five years have passed since ‘Mickey C’, as his Davitts’ team-mates call him, played a leading role in the 2006 All-Ireland winning Mayo under 21 squad.
Now a revitalised Conroy is back in the groove again. Hard work through the winter in the Ballindine gym with Colm Boyle, on the bike and in the pool have paid off.
He has notched nine points in two recent league games, against Islandeady and Tourmakeady. Davitts manager Peter Warren is working him hard in training and he is clearly relishing the captain’s armband.
That is more than enough to keep him busy for now.
“As regards the Mayo senior panel, I haven’t thought about it to be honest,” he explained. “It’s not something I have any reason to consider at the moment.
“It’s for them to say whether I’m good enough and then I’d have to consider. It’s a big ask, a lot of gym work, training. . I’ve been there before, I did four years. I don’t know if I’d go again.”
The junior competition in the province appears to have an added edge this season with all five counties competing, and some good football being played.
Michael Conroy says that the current panel’s mix of some of the current under 21s, and a number of players with senior inter-county experience, is an added bonus to Mayo. He picks out some examples. 
“Our full-forward, Colin Dempsey, is a great player, a big strong forward who is great to play with. He has great potential. I know it’s juniors but there are a lot of players there who could be playing senior football. Maybe not this year, but next year.
“Colm Boyle from my own club is a great servant too. He’ll give you everything and was man of the match against Roscommon, I have no doubt in my mind that he is better than a lot of players that are in there [the Mayo senior panel].”
For the most promising players in the Mayo junior squad to get noticed by James Horan in the coming weeks, they will need to make a mark in this competition.
Getting out of Connacht won’t be easy though as the reigning All-Ireland champions Sligo, fresh from beating Galway, await in the final.
“Sligo football is improving,” admitted Conroy.
“I’m involved with St Colman’s College football this year and Summerhill, for example, are going well. They’re on the way up.
“People we’ll look at this differently and say it’s only Mayo juniors, but we don’t see it that way. It’s a Connacht final and a provincial medal is on offer.
“I think if we can go beyond that, the county will see that we have some strong players in this squad and a lot of people will come out to support us.”