INTERVIEW: Magic moments and exciting times for Mayo star Durcan

First up, the All Ireland winner spoke about the celebrations and what he had expected. “They were probably even better, to be honest. It's hard to envisage what the reality of it is going to be and obviously, none of us really knew that, because we were waiting so long and we hadn't got over the line. It's probably only looking back at it now, you realise the magnitude of what it was. Just to see so many people in MacHale Park the day after and passing through every club, it definitely surpassed what you maybe envisaged it might be. It was unbelievably special.”

An All-star winner in 2019, Durcan explained “it was unreal to get over the line, particularly with fellas I'd soldiered with for a number of years. I suppose the big thing as well, I felt for the fella’s who had probably just missed out in the last couple of years. Lads that I would have played with maybe in the 2016, 2017 finals and that have missed out on it.

To see them after the final, I know a lot of them came down and celebrated with us a couple of days after. I thought that was a touch of class by them. They deserve massive credit for what we achieved because they set a mark of where Mayo football had aimed at. So I think that's really important to acknowledge.”

Croke Park was full of tension on July 26 in the final stages and the defender explains what he was experiencing as history came calling. “Obviously I was late enough coming on, but it probably didn't click into my focus in terms of what was actually happening until probably Tommy Conroy put that ball over the bar and then he was running out and celebrating.

I remember just screaming at him, trying to get him to focus and get into position, but he no more heard me or wanted to probably hear me. That was probably the first moment where you actually thought, Jesus, this is actually going to happen.”

“It’s been unbelievable since then, between all the visits we've had, which are very important, between schools, clubs, nursing homes, hospitals. It's obviously of utmost importance because it's for everybody. We've got to see first hand, the amount of pride and importance. It's probably something we're not aware of until it actually happens, it's special. The nursing homes in particular, some of those residents probably saw it the last time Mayo won the All-Ireland back in 1951, so it's a real special moment for them as well.

It was special for people who were obviously there to celebrate it, but then a lot of people had family members who weren't there to celebrate it. Everybody has their own story to tell in relation to it. I'm just glad that we as a team could provide that for people because I think it's very important. It's what Mayo football is all about and the history and heritage behind it.”

There has been some talk around the county in the past few years that the standard of Mayo club football is at a poor level but this season has produced a very competitive race for the Moclair Cup. Durcan, who won the title with Castlebar Mitchels agrees and said “I'd say generally in terms of the course of the competition, it was a very good championship, I would say, in terms of young lads standing out. And I think Andy's going to be left with good options there in terms of making additions to the (Mayo) panel and bolstering it up for next year, because that's going to come quickly over the horizon.”

The past few weeks were special for the Durcan family as Paddy had brothers James and Mark also on the winning Castlebar paneI. Speaking with pride, Durcan said “ I suppose it's often documented, but that's what club is all about. Everybody has their unique bonds within the club, which binds everybody together. So, it's absolutely special for the three of us to win a county medal together, and to be honest when you're waiting nine years for it, I would argue this one, the fifth one, has nearly been the sweetest of the lot of them.”

It’s been a long season for Durcan, mentally and physically but the Castlebar man is still buzzing about what’s to come. “It’s a long season but I'm not for one second sitting here tired and exhausted. I'm just delighted to be having success with the club and hopefully that may continue. I've had the best of days representing both Mayo and Castlebar and it won't last forever, but If you were sat down at the start of the year and project how you would like things to go, I mean, I wouldn't alter too many things now, in fairness.”

Next up for Mitchels is a clash in Ruislip against Fulham Irish and Durcan is looking forward to the unique experience. “It's a huge thing as a club as well, no more than when you go over with Mayo to London and New York. I know from just speaking to people in the clubhouse the night of the county final, everybody seemed to be on the phone straight away and there were flights being booked left, right and centre.

That's a class thing to have as a club and it definitely binds the club together and it'll always be a huge memory for people to have. For ourselves, we just want to go over, get the game in and get a performance and hopefully into the next round. For supporters and stuff, it's a massive weekend for them to go and enjoy it. They might as well go and do that because that's what sport's all about.”