What Tom Parsons had to do for his second chance should be a warning to every county hopeful

Conan Doherty

You have to be ready.

Tom Parsons was ready.

It might not be the ideal time, you might not even know it’s coming but, if you’re good enough, the call can come at any time.

Tom Parsons was on this week’s GAA Hour and his interview gained widespread acclaim – even from some of Mayo’s biggest rivals.

The midfielder dissected a hell of a journey.

He quickly and firmly batted down suggestions that he was a “Sligo man”.
He talked about his debut season and the call-up to Ireland and thinking it was always going to be like that before he got cut from the county squad when Horan came in.
Then he went through his commute from Cardiff back to play intermediate club football out west.
He spoke about the patch of grass in Wales where he abused himself to stay in any kind of shape.
The “magic” of the GAA was discussed because its power really hits home when you’re away without it.
He also told of his pre-season scare now that he’s 29 and his body fat levels suddenly being higher.

But his journey back onto the Mayo squad is fascinating.

Having fallen out of favour and then left the country, it seemed like Parsons’ opportunities under James Horan were over until, one day at the start of 2014, the phone rang – and him in Cardiff.

“The panel had actually been picked in December as far as I’m aware and I didn’t actually get a call until mid-January,” Parsons told The GAA Hour.

“I thought I had missed the boat and I wasn’t in the best of shape – I was always light, I never had weight on. I got a call on the Monday to say ‘can you come over to play an FDB game on Sunday?’

“I was kind of like… [hesitant]… but I couldn’t say no. I’d love to have had three or four weeks notice but loads of guys get a call to say are you available for a game next Sunday and you just have to take it.

“I remember hanging up that phone and going out to that piece of grass and I trained Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday twice, Thursday just trying to get fit in the week if I could.”

He played the game, he starred in the game, he started the first National League match. And he had no idea his chance was coming.

Listen to the full interview below from 26:00.