MALLOW’S MATTIE TAYLOR ON LIFE WITH CORK

Mattie Taylor never played minor or Under 21 for Cork, but he’s made himself a mainstay of the seniors

ORK footballer Mattie Taylor is the epitome of the modern day athlete. Dedicated to his craft, both on and off the field, while also carving out a very impressive career in engineering, Taylor is prepared to sacrifice more than most to make sure he achieves all that he can for both club and county.

Mattie, son of Mattie and Breda Taylor, has become one of the first names on Ronan McCarthy’s team sheet over the past two years pulling in plaudits from all quarters for his never-say-die attitude and an engine that never misses a beat.

The current COVID-19 crisis has left some of the country’s biggest sporting stars with time on their hands, but for Taylor, the downtime has given him time to reflect on what has been a whirlwind few years for one of the county’s most solid defenders.

“Do you know that up to now I had never really sat back and reflected on the start of my career with Cork as when you are in it you are in the moment, but when I think back it really was a very special time for me.

“Unlike a lot of the guys that make it to the senior squad I had never played for the county at underage, minor or even at under 21. I don’t hold that against anyone for not picking me through the years as you see I wasn’t up to it. I don’t think I was the player back then that I hope I have been able to become today.

“In 2016 I had a good year with Avondhu and we got to the county semi-final and I think that year stood massively to me giving me exposure to senior football, which helped me into 2017 when I got the call into the McGrath Cup squad making my full game debut away to Tipperary.

“Peadar Healy then gave me a call and asked me to come in and join the setup without guaranteeing me anything and obviously I took the opportunity with both hands. I trained with the squad that year with Cork, but didn’t play but we won the county with Mallow that year and that again gave me an opportunity to improve and I believe that season really stood to me.

“When I finally got my chance, let’s call it my full competitive debut, in 2018 against Louth, I was really excited and relishing the opportunity to be involved in a really professional setup – to learn new skills and to be coached at a really high level.”

A year with the county’s top footballers helped turn Taylor from a squad player to a starter with his first start in competitive action following next on the cards.

“I played in the league of that year [2018] mainly off the bench, but made my Championship debut against Tipperary in Thurles, coming on for the last 10 minutes. That was something that I had always dreamed of. It was a real proud moment for me and my family and a day I will never forget.”

While making it to the top of the game would be enough for some, Taylor is in the ideal position to know just how difficult it is to stay there and the first challenge for inter-county stars is to stave off the attentions of those from inside his own squad.

“You can’t sit on your laurels in a county setup. You can’t stop developing, you can’t stop learning and you just can’t stop performing. The day you stop performing is the day you are sitting on the bench or even outside the bench as there are any number of very talented and dedicated players ready to take your place.

“It is a hugely competitive group inside the county setup. 35 guys in the panel and there is always a guy in front or a guy behind you all the time. You can’t not perform in training or in a game and having that competitiveness really makes you perform – there is always pressure there to perform and to do your best you have to give it your all.”

Taylor acknowledged that there is a great bond between all those chosen to represent their county on the elite panel, but when it comes to fighting for a jersey it is all about the individual.

“We go out in an A versus B or a 15 v 15 game in training and there is skin and hair flying for that 30 minutes or that hour. There isn’t really any friends and, while I know some people may take that up the wrong way, it is because we respect each other and know just how good the others are. We have to fight for our position.

“If you don’t fight and perform in those games you won’t get your jersey the next day. So it is really important to be competitive and in a selfish way you just have to look after yourself, of course, overall the team comes first and you have to respect that, but you have to show that grit and determination and that bite in your performances to try and hold that jersey.”

Taylor may have come late to the Blood and Bandage, but the wait has been worth it and playing for his county has been worth all of the sacrifices demanded.

“To play for Cork has been everything I thought it would be and everything I hoped it would be. I really, really enjoy the setup. I am constantly learning and constantly challenged and I am someone that loves that challenge – whatever sport or work I engage in.

“I always went after that challenge. I just love going out training with the lads and I love going to the gym. I spoke about fighting for your own position and your own right to be there, but I just love the collective thing as well. You really have to enjoy it because the amount of time that goes into it demands that.

“I don’t call it a commitment. It is much more than that. It is so different to normal life as when you go to training or go to games or the gym you are with 30 plus guys that really want to be there. It is an environment that is brilliant to be a part of and you get so much out of being involved.”

Playing with Cork in recent years could be seen by many as more of a chore than a treat, but the Mallow man believes in the latter and was quick to point out when he believes the Rebels rediscovered their mojo; finally sending