Paddy Durcan saves Mayo’s bacon again and it just can’t be a coincidence anymore

Mayo are never dead when Paddy Durcan is on the field.

The Castlebar Mitchels man is inspired every time he dons the famous green and red jersey. He breathes life into a game. He rallies his teammates, he gives hope to Stephen Rochford, to his faithful Mayo following. He chases lost causes with the speed of any other player when they've the ball in their hands. When he has the ball in his hands, he gallops like a thoroughbred racehorse. Forward, always forward. His step is sprightly, his stride his long and meaningful. His head is up, and that head seems to always take the right option. Durcan is an outlet that's always there for his teammates. He's a willing runner that seems to make it his business at the start of a game to flatten every blade of grass on the green pitch he's going to grace. It's no fluke Paddy Durcan pops up to score the points that save his county's life. Because Durcan doesn't shirk a chance. He's a go-getter, and like a bull testing an electric fence for its weak points, he will pounce when he senses an opportunity or a sign of weakness. He found that weak point against Monaghan in Clones on Sunday. Like he always does. It may only be the first round of the league, but that doesn't matter. The scores were tied, there were only seconds left and probably a large portion of the players on the pitch would have taken a draw. Not Durcan. 0-13 0-12. Mayo win. Paddy Durcan again. https://twitter.com/MayoGAA/status/957638118953357312 And it's no fluke at this stage. That's what this man does. When others around him are tiring, he's in his groove, he's revelling in the pain, relishing the chance, ready to pounce. He's done it on so many times in the past. https://twitter.com/radiomidwest/status/957638718667542529 Last season, he waltzed up the field to save his county on four occasions.

Derry: Scored in the 67th minute to put a point between the teams and to end a 17-minute scoreless run for Mayo. Cork: Put Mayo ahead in the 75th minute but it was cancelled out in the 78th minute. Roscommon: Tied the game in the 46th minute, put Mayo ahead in 68th minute but it was cancelled out in the 73rd. Kerry: Scored the equalising point in the 74th minute.

It's too good, too consistent to be a coincidence. And Mayo fans know that well.