David Jennings
KEITH HIGGINS may have been the main ingredient in Mayo’s tasty triumph over Roscommon in last Sunday’s National Hurling League Division 2B opener, but the dual star is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign due to football commitments.
According to Higgins, Mayo football boss James Horan had a meeting with his hurling counterpart Murt Connolly at the beginning of the year and the pair agreed that he would hang up his hurley if any games clashed.
“It’s a pity it happens but I’m well used to it at this stage,” Higgins told The Mayo News on Monday. “It’s been a lifetime problem for me but, this year, thankfully, James and Murt sat down at the beginning of the year and agreed that I would play football if the two clashed. So at the moment, football is my number one.”
Higgins also revealed that Connolly and the hurling panel were well aware of the situation before he agreed to captain the side.
“When Murt came to me and asked me to be captain, the first thing I said to him was that I was likely to miss a lot of games but he was fine with that and still wanted me to captain the side which I was privileged to do once I knew the players were okay with it.
“When the two teams are winning it makes things that bit easier,” he added. “Hopefully that will continue to be the case and that the lads on the hurling panel will keep winning while I’m away.
“But for now, the way the games are clashing for the next few weeks and, with the Dublin game being re-fixed on the same day as the hurling, it looks as though I’ll miss most of the games. ”
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