This week we had a special visitor to the arena when Mayo Senior Football captain Paddy Durcan or Captain Durcs as he is known back home called in to chat to our U12 hurlers.

Paddy who hails from the famous Castlebar Mitchels club was passing through the 'Bridge when he dropped in for a chat.

He spoke to the boys about his experience in sport as a young lad who struggled to make the Mayo Minors but always knew if he worked hard he would some day fulfil his dream of playing for the Green and Red of Mayo. His idol in Football was Westport man Lee Keegan who was a true leader and always trained like he played at 100% effort.

He gave the boys a great insight into how he prepares for games, the extra work he does on his own as well as how he picks himself up after a defeat and spoke of how he would often learn more from a loss than a win and use that to reenergize himself to become an even better player. He gave great advise to our long term injured players Cian and Noah on being patient with their rehab and explained how important it was for players to stay part of the team and attend training even if not partaking.

Paddy is a great example and role model for young sports people as he has reached the heights he dreamed of in captaining Mayo to win the National League in 2023 as well as winning an All Star and we really do hope some day he gets his just reward with a Celtic Cross.

Following the chat Paddy answered some very interesting questions from the boys and posed for some photos including a definite for the mantle piece at the Conneelys of Noah and Paddy who was delighted to hear Noahs Dad was a big Mayo fan.

Thanks to Paddy for dropping in and he joins a growing list of speakers who have visited training for our U11,12 and 13 boys throughout the year which included Seadna Morey, Evan McInerney, Paidi Fitzpatrick, Cathal Malone, David McInerney and Rory Gantly (Galway). Great nuggets of information provided by all speakers who were not so long ago the boys sitting down on the ground looking up at their own heros and dreaming of becoming hurling gladiators in their stadium of dreams wearing the Saffron & Blue of the Bridge and Clare.

Mol an Óige | BridgeAbú | AlwaysHurling

Photo Source: SportsFile