NO MORE HIGG SHOCKS
Mayo are hoping Keith is last star name to hang up boots
THRILLS & SPILLS GAA offered viewers plenty of entertainment last season
MICKEY CONROY is optimistic that Keith Higgins is the last of the Mayo retirements that James Horan will endure this year.
Higgins, who turns 35 next month, is following in the footsteps of Clarke, Donal Vaughan (inset, top), Seamus O’shea (inset, middle), Tom Parsons (inset, bottom) and Chris Barrett in leaving Horan’s panel.
In the four-time Allstar’s case it is after 14 years of top-class service that saw him win eight Connacht championships and a National League at senior level.
He came to national prominence in 2006 when he was captain of the under-21s that claimed the Allireland title – and, in the senior All-ireland semi-final, he successfully went toe to toe with Dublin’s
Alan Brogan.
In total, he played in five All-ireland deciders between
2006 and 2017 – six, including the 2016 replay – and in 75 Championship games altogether.
However, the Ballyhaunis man was an unused member of the matchday squad in Mayo’s most recent final loss to Dublin in December.
“He always got the tough job against the best attackers in Ireland and often came out the better side of it, or at least even,” Conroy, a former teammate, told Midwest Radio.
“He was so good he didn’t have to mark from the back, he didn’t mind being out in front.
“He led by example in the way he played.”
Higgins is expected to hurl again for Mayo, having previously won a Division 3 NHL medal and the Nicky Rackard Cup with his county, making the Christy Ring All-star team in 2018.
“It was sad news to get, he was an unbelievable servant,” added Conroy.
“When you see the likes of Henry Shefflin, the king of hurling, sending him a message on Twitter, and Bernard Brogan wishing him well with whatever he does next, you have to say he left a mark.
“He was really, really talented, he went about his business very quietly but when he spoke you listened.”
Mayo chairman Liam Moffatt has described the flurry of retirements as “a changing of the guard”.
And Horan will be grateful that at least a group of new faces made such an impact in 2020, with Oisin Mullen, Eoghan Mclaughlin and Tommy Conroy all making the shortlist for the PWC Young Footballer of the Year award. Nevertheless, last year’s losing All-ireland finalists are dealing with the departure of so much big-game know-how.
“It happens in cycles,” said Conroy of the spate of retirements.
“A lot of them came on to the scene at the same time, but it’s unfortunate they have all come together.
“Six is a lot, to have them all gone is a huge void to fill in the dressingroom just for personality and their experience from playing those big games, it’s huge boots to fill but time waits for no one.
“You’d have to hope that’s the end for now.”