hurling

Heneghan enjoying Mayo's rewarding Celtic Challenge campaign

31 May 2024 - 1:55PM

Mayo have enjoyed a productive spell in the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge. Photo by Mayo GAA

By Cian O’Connell

A busy weekend beckons in the Celtic Challenge. Mayo reaching the Division Three decider is a noteworthy achievement. Sunday’s game in Abbotstown against Laois will be a demanding test for Seán Heneghan’s outfit, but it also offers a source of encouragement to those who kept hurling going in the green and red county.

Later that afternoon the Celtic Challenge panel will attend the Nickey Rackard Cup decider at Croke Park between Mayo and Donegal.

All these things matter and Heneghan is delighted with the progress being made. “We were doing the U15 Academy team before this, the lads were looking forward to playing Celtic Challenge, a lot of them played in it last year,” he explains.

“So, we moved with them this year and it is a goal for the younger lads - to play Celtic Challenge. That is a goal. I know they all want to play minor football for Mayo, but in the hurling the goal is to play Celtic Challenge. Playing at a higher level, like against Laois on Sunday, it is a bonus. We are playing a team south of the line as they say.”

Operating in this environment is vital for development according to Heneghan. “Very much so, I think Mayo got to a Division Five final two or three years ago, they played Sligo in the final and lost that year,” he says.

“Even playing Kerry, the lads were looking forward to playing Kerry, they know they are a Joe McDonagh county. Westmeath too, they looked forward to it because they know their senior team is operating at a higher level. That is the way they see it, too.”

Significant work is being carried out in Mayo. Undoubtedly Gaelic Football dominates the agenda, but hurling matters. “Even with the senior team, you can see more clubs represented,” Heneghan says.

“The senior team that is playing on Sunday, you have a lot more clubs represented. It is the same with the underage, even though we only have six out of the 10 clubs represented for different reasons.

“A couple of the clubs didn't have any players to come in and a few players that were with us when they were U15, but they decided to opt out because of other sports and the commitment. Even to have six clubs with players on the panel, it is a great achievement for us.”

Mayo played against Westmeath in the 2024 Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge. Photo by Mayo GAA

Mayo GAA officials, Heneghan, and his selectors have combined effectively in 2024. “There is a lot of work being done with the County Board, they have been absolutely brilliant to us this year,” Heneghan says.

“We brought a strength and conditioning coach in this year, we have a full medical team, they are being looked after with food, buses, equipment, everything we need is there for us. It is there.

“You have volunteers on the ground in all of the clubs. Every club you go to you see the same people. You might have a coach at U14, but he is also the U16 coach, and vice versa.”

Clubs face issues especially bringing players through the ranks efficiently. “The problem is getting lads through from 14 to 16, even my own club, Claremorris, it is a struggle to get lads past 16,” he explains. “Then to get them lads to play on the junior team. When you walk away it is hard to come back again.

“For me, talking to the lads in Tooreen, culture is a big part of it. Tooreen can bring them through, Castlebar have a good culture of keeping the hurling going. People, who played before are there, they are coming into help.

“Castlebar is a bigger town, we have a man with us, John Enright from Tipperary. So, he is very involved with the Castlebar club. They are able to keep players coming through. Tooreen is a small village, but hurling is there a long time.

“Every family and every door, there is a hurl at it, compared to here in Claremorris and Westport.

“You've so many sports and there isn't the culture of it, going to play at adult level. You play a bit when you're younger, that is it, very few play past 16 or 18. That is the next big step, getting it to stick all the way through.”

With the Mayo Celtic Challenge panel, though, Heneghan has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with other passionate coaches.

Mayo contest the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Division Three Final against Laois on Sunday. Photo by Mayo GAA

“We met these lads when they were 14, their first year playing U15,” he recalls. “We were coaching them there. Richie Crinnegan is from Tooreen, he has coached all of them lads from when they were very young.

“John Enright is involved with Castlebar, he is still coaching all of them lads at club level. I'm in Claremorris, I'm coaching all the lads here at U16 and minor. I know the lads, and Michael Bolger is with Ballina, he is with the amalgamated club St Kieran's, which is Ballina, Caiseal Gaels, and Ballyvary.

“So, we know all of these lads well. That made it a lot easier, we knew they love hurling.”

Reasons for optimism exist. At U14 level 10 clubs are expected to field teams – another hugely encouraging sign. Doing his bit for the Mayo hurling cause means something to Kilmaine native Heneghan. “I enjoy the coaching part of it, I picked it up,” he says. “Martin Fogarty did a lot of workshops, you'd learn a lot from that. When they were looking for people with the Academy, I went in helping out there.

“Suddenly, I am where I am now, but the three lads with me are brilliant men. John Enright, a Tipperary man, hurling mad, Michael Bolger is an Offaly man, hurling mad, and Richie Crinnegan is a Tooreen man, has to be hurling mad. There is a team, the lads themselves absolutely love it.”

Such passion and purpose has benefited Mayo, who have embarked on a memorable adventure. There has been setbacks and comebacks, but learning continues to take place. “We played Gort Secondary School earlier in the year, that really got them going,” Heneghan says.

“They won the game by a point. It stood to them in the Roscommon game, a physical game, they didn't give in, even though they were eight points down.

“They came back, drew the game with the last puck of the game, and took over in extra-time to bring us to a final. That, luck, and strength and conditioning was the key to the semi-final.”

Heneghan and his coaching colleagues have contributed handsomely to this Mayo hurling story too.

Corn Tom Hogan: https://www.youtube.com/live/qKj2yeIJ5No

Celtic Challenge Finals

Division One - Corn Michael Hogan live stream

Sunday June 2

Tipperary Blue v Kilkenny, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.30pm

Division Two - Corn John Scott live stream

Sunday June 2

East Cork v Dublin, UPMC Nowlan Park, 12.30pm

Division Three - Corn William Robinson

Sunday June 2

Mayo v Laois, Abbotstown, 1pm