Mayo forward Jason Doherty finally won some silverware for the Westerners after years of falling painfully short.
Four All-Ireland visits and not a single national winners medal to show for it but against Kerry last weekend in the Division 1 final he finally bucked the trend and brought some silverware back west.
“Listen, that great satisfaction from winning the last day is probably a sign that the last five months of effort and training and bits that we’re trying to improve, there’s something being done right,” said Doherty.
“We’ve made progress, there’s development there in terms of the amount of players we’ve played, and consistency. Winning the league shows you’ve been relatively consistent through the early parts of the year. That’s probably the most pleasing part, to be honest.”
While Mayo have been contenders for most of this decade, the 2019 league season finally saw the likes of Matthew Ruane, James McCormack, Fionn McDonagh and others take a larger role in the team and it’s been a welcomed breath of fresh air for Doherty and his teammates.
“Yeah, so many of them,” Doherty replied when asked about some of the young players breaking through to the Mayo side.
“Michael Plunkett. James Carr started his first league game in a national league final. He comes up with the goods, obviously getting the two points in the start of the second half. Even more so, just his eagerness and the courage he showed, showing for the ball. I thought he showed maturity to lead the full-forward line which is great, and there’s been so many examples.
“James McCormack, Fionn McDonagh who was so unlucky to not play the last day given the contributions he made in the league so far. Rattling off so many names, and there’s more of them. I think we’ve blooded over 30 players throughout the league, which is great.
“It keeps us experienced lads on our toes, and if anything, because it’s been such change from week to week, literally if you show up on the Tuesday night and train well, it’s not a cliché anymore, with Horan certainly this year has shown you’re in with a shout of playing on Saturday or Sunday.
“Obviously from being outside the 26 and not starting games previously, that just gives you a bit of motivation to stand up and make an effort on the Tuesday.”
The promotion of a range of different players to the starting team has pushed the likes of Colm Boyle and Andy Moran into more peripheral roles at times this year but Doherty hails their experience off the bench as invaluable.
“There’s no denying it. Looking over and seeing the likes of Colm Boyle sprinting on looking for a man to mark, there’s probably no better sight, to be honest,” he added.
“You get a serious buzz. You think ‘god help the fella after playing 40 minutes before that and now he has a fresh Colm Boyle coming on to mark him.’ Obviously, Andy coming on bringing that leadership, that experience, that ball winning ability.
“I suppose Ciaran Treacy’s goal was a perfect example of that. That wasn’t an easy win. Tapped it down, wins a hard ball and then has the whereabouts to kick it over his shoulder right into Ciaran Treacy’s path. It is definitely something that stood out in this league. Down in Kerry, I remember Lee Keegan coming on. There is definitely something got out of it.”
Jason Doherty of Mayo in attendance at the official launch of Physio Led Personal Training at Sports Physio Ireland. Physio Led Personal Training is designed to improve your overall level of well being, helping you to achieve your fitness goals all the while catering for any lingering injuries you may have. SPI want people to come, enjoy their time and achieve their individual goals.
