Previous maulings play no part in Higgins’ motivation
Mayo’s last championship outings against the sides were ones to forget. Naturally with time, the 2006 All-Ireland final is easier to rub away than this year’s Connacht opener but the Ballyhaunis man, although he protests to not remembering much of the day, can recount the facts like the margin of defeat. He can recall the hurt too. After what happened in 2004, the sense of déjà vu as well. And that decision not to accept a homecoming.
“It wasn’t that we wanted to get away from anything,” he explained about making that call, “but we were just kind of embarrassed coming home and people out cheering you after losing by 13 points or whatever it was, trying to face the public after being beaten like that.
“It was embarrassment more than anything.”
That was a low time and yet Higgins feels the aftermath of needing extra-time to beat London in May was worse.
He’d never experienced disillusionment like it.
“It is something that you just have to try and not take any notice (of). I don’t know how you would describe it, but it wasn’t us.”
Higgins didn’t exactly bury his head in the sand but he didn’t need to be told the performance wasn’t up to scratch.
“We wouldn’t be looking at message boards now or anything because it would be an awful dent to the confidence if you did.
“Lads knew that we had underperformed over there and we had let a lot of people down.”
Hurling has been the dual star’s haven. Less expectations and a game he truly loves.
“If anything comes up I just go up and start pucking the ball against the wall and forget about whatever is coming up or whatever has been said so it is always there (in) the back of my mind that it is always good to have something to have.”
Hurling took a back seat this year due to injuries but the condensed format of the Christy Ring Cup didn’t help either.
“The way that the Christy Ring was this year, it was over by the beginning of June. It is not a good thing for hurling but from a purely selfish point of view, it means that you can concentrate on the football from June onwards.”
For the likes of Higgins, captain Alan Dillon and Andy Moran, the past is a stone in the boot but the corner-back knows the pain doesn’t apply to everyone on the panel.
“There are lads there from ‘06 who would have that motivation but there are other lads who have never played against them at all in the championship.
“They probably have no fear coming up against them, they will be playing Kerry on a big day in Croke Park so what more do you want.”
He can’t speak for his teammates who left Dublin broken men that September Monday five years ago but he knows nothing will ever rectify it. Not even winning on Sunday.
He’s watched the DVD of the game a couple of times but that’s about it. He’s moved on because he’s had to.
“Some might have it on the back of their mind as long as they are playing and other fellows might forget about it straight away. It depends on the person.
“Hopefully we can go out against Kerry and turn the tables. I won’t say that we will beat them by 13 points. We just have to come out with everything and see what happens and see where it takes us.”
MAYO manager James Horan has delayed naming his side for the Kerry game until today as he gives Trevor Mortimer and Peadar Gardiner time to overcome their injury problems.
Gardiner is not expected to make it after pulling his hamstring but Mortimer was rated 50-50 by management during the week.
Sub keeper Kenneth O’Malley has been called up to provide cover for Robbie Hennelly.
