Mortimer not ruling out Mayo return
Two months after watching his former team-mates lose to Donegal in the All-Ireland final, the Parnells clubman says he has not abandoned the hope of playing for Mayo again.
“At the moment, I’m training and playing soccer practice games with Parnells twice a week and keeping a level of fitness up,” said Mortimer.
“But playing with your county is always something you’d like to do and I’d never rule out playing with Mayo again.
“However, that’s entirely a matter for the team management.”
And despite the fact he is now 30 and made his senior inter-county debut back in 2002, Mortimer doesn’t feel these factors would impact adversely on the possibility of a return to the Mayo colours.
“You’re only as old as you feel and as far as I’m concerned age would not be an issue in these circumstances,” he said.
“When you make a decision, you have to stick by it, and I’ve got on with my life over the last few months. Every player likes to play in an All-Ireland final, but I’ve been lucky to play in a few [2004 and 2006].
“I suppose the feeling I experienced this year was somewhat similar to a player being ruled out of the final through injury, or maybe the way some players feel when they reach the age of 40 and think that they should still be playing in an All-Ireland final.”
Enda Gilbarry is the new manager of the Mayo minor football team. He was full-back on the last team from the county to win an All-Ireland MFC title back in 1985.
