Search Results for 'Barry Solan'

Last year saw Brendan Harrison rewarded for his displays for Mayo in his breakthrough year with an All Star award for his defensive displays. While it was a nice personal recognition, it doesn't mean that the Aghamore man was able to rest on his laurels this year. "It was lovely to get one, but the ultimate goal is to get a Celtic Cross. It was still a lovely prize to get and get recognised, but once we went into 2017, you were battling for your jersey again, no-one was going to say that's Brendan Harrison's jersey — you had to go out and prove yourself again for it. You're doing that through each game, it's a new squad or panel, there are young lads coming into it and lads who have moved on; it's different set up and different unit with new people."

Twenty years ago he was in the Nally Stand with a bus load of team-mates from Ballyhaunis when Colm Coyle's shot hopped over the bar and Meath pulled level at the death. Last Sunday week, he was on the field watching Diarmuid Connolly's effort from a sideline sail wide and drop over his head deep in injury time giving Mayo one last chance at drawing level. And thanks to Cillian O'Connor's effort seconds later, he will be back in Croke Park tomorrow evening again with it all to gain.

He is one of the most successful captains Mayo have ever had on the football field, yet he is still only 20 years of age. This time three years ago, Stephen Coen was preparing to lead the Mayo minors out on to Croke Park in the All Ireland minor final against Tyrone, in the 36 months that have passed since then he has captained Mayo to win that minor final, kicked the insurance score in the Sigerson Cup final this year, lined out for his club in an All Ireland final back in Croke Park, and at the end of the spring he captained the Mayo U21s to the All Ireland title in Cork.