Brendan Harrison: 'It's going to be a tough game'
Brendan Harrison has established himself as a key player for Mayo.
By Cian O'Connell
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A proper chance was all Brendan Harrison wanted. On the fringes of the Mayo team for a couple of years Harrison enjoyed a splendid 2016 campaign culminating in an All Star award.
That was the level of performance Harrison was able to reach, his passion and perseverance for the Mayo cause was rewarded.
It wasn’t always easy, though, because Harrison had to endure days when doubt could have crept into the mind. The hard work carried out when Harrison didn’t get beckoned from the bench to feature in the Green and Red ultimately increased his desire and development.
“Yeah, it is a lot of work,” Harrison says about the inter-county apprenticeship players frequently endure.
“You are there for a few years trying to break in, there are loads of guys that were in my exact situation then in the panel that people don't even know about. That is brilliant, if you don't have that competition coming up you aren't going to improve yourself.
“So a lot of hard work and probably back then you'd be disappointed you didn't get on the field or get game time. Once you get out there, you have to make the most of your opportunity.” Harrison has done that.
Missing the Connacht SFC Quarter-Final win over Sligo due to a hamstring injury was a blow, but Mayo had sufficient power to set-up an attractive Salthill assignment against Galway.
Harrison smiles when the conversation switches to selfies and is adamant that the hype and constant attention on the Mayo football story isn’t a distraction. “Not a bit, obviously you'd hear it, you'd hear people talk in the street, but as soon as I come in those gates every night for training there is only one thing on my mind,” Harrison states.
Brendan Harrison congratulates Dublin manager Jim Gavin after the 2016 All Ireland SFC Final replay.
“It is the same with everybody here. They are going out on the field to make themselves as good as they can, same on matchday. What happens out there we will laugh and joke about it, but a distraction, definitely not.”
Aidan O’Shea’s performance won’t be impacted in any way according to his colleague Harrison either.
“I don't think it is seeping into his mentality or anything like that,” Harrison remarks. “Obviously he is aware of it, you'd want to be living under a rock not to be aware of it happening, but mentally he is so strong. These sort of things don't seep into his performance or anything outside of that. It doesn't filter in once we cross the gate.
“You are aware of these things, but as a distraction, no. We were thinking about Sligo, then after that game we have been thinking about Galway. What happened last year I don't really care about, what happened 10 years ago I don't really care about either. All that anybody is focusing on at any moment is the next game, the next step. At the minute that is Galway. That is all we are thinking about.”
In 2016 Galway staged a daring Castlebar Championship ambush when securing a shock victory over Mayo, who had been the standard bearers in the west for the previous five years.
Will Mayo’s approach alter due to Galway’s significant improvement during the past 12 months? “I wouldn't say mentality wise, but it is a different situation,” Harrison answers.
“They are after coming full of confidence after winning a Division Two title, they are reigning Connacht Champions and up to Division One Football again.
“Obviously they are going to be coming with a bit of confidence, it is going to be a tough game, it is in Pearse Stadium, Mayo versus Galway, it is going to be a good, tough game, it is going to be what Championship is made of.”
