On Wednesday the Mayo GAA rumour mill was at full steam with talk that Conor Mortimer had decided to leave the Mayo senior panel, only a matter of days before Sunday’s Connacht Final. The former Shrule-Glencorrib man, who along with being Mayo’s all time leading scorers, has been one of the most colourful and charismatic players to every wear the green and red for Mayo.
On Wednesday night, the Mayo County Board confirmed the news when they released a statement, through PRO Aidan McLoughlin, which said: “The Mayo GAA County Board can confirm that due to personal reasons, Conor Mortimer has decided to leave the current Mayo Senior Football panel. The management, players and Mayo County Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Conor Mortimer for his services this year to Mayo GAA and indeed for his services throughout the years. Conor has been a great servant to Mayo football and his contributions will live long in the hearts in Mayo people. We would also like to state the door is always open for any player who is showing the skills, commitment, ability, and passion for Mayo GAA now and in the future.”
Mortimer has kept his powder dry on why he left the panel for the most part, but has responded to a few questions from supporters on his Twitter account, @conmort. In response to one person who said, “You would have won your place back at some stage, very disappointed with the timing. There is no going back#toysoutofthepram?” Mortimer responded on Wednesday evening that: “nah more too [sic] it” And when asked did he quit the panel because he wasn’t starting on Sunday, Mortimer responded simply “nope.” While another follower of his said he hoped that he didn’t regret his decision which Mortimer responded he had “no regrets.”
In his decade playing with Mayo the Mayo senior team Conor picked up three Connacht senior championship medals in 2004, 2006, and 2009. His last Connacht championship victory was marked by his unveiling of the now famous RIP Michael Jackson t-shirt after he scored a goal against Galway, after coming on off the bench. He missed out on last year’s Connacht final victory when he missed the season through injury. He also was a key man in both the 2004 and 2006 Mayo teams that were beaten by Kerry in the All Ireland finals. He also picked up a Sigerson Cup winners medal from his time in DCU.
Mortimer wrote his name in to the record books back in at the end of March when his eight point haul against Dublin in McHale Park saw him over take Ardnaree legend Joe Corcoran as Mayo’s all time leading scorer. That was Mortimer’s 95th game for Mayo in league and championship and put him on 14-380 (422 points ). In the four games he has played in league and championship since he has added on another three points in the two league games against Kerry, the league final against Cork, and last month’s Connacht semi-final against Leitrim.
