The Quiet Man

THIS gives you a sense of Mayo’s silent full-back Ger Cafferkey.

Back in 2006 Pat Holmes had taken over the Mayo U21 team alongside Noel Connelly. The county minors were beaten in the 2005 All-Ireland final so five of them were given a trial for the next level. Ballina Stephenites’ Ger Cafferkey was one.

Straight away Holmes, full back for Mayo in the 1997 Maurice Fitzgerald final, and Connelly saw their starting full-back for the season ahead. Oodles of pace and an ability to knock the ball out of the attacker’s hands gave them a solid platform to build a team from. In February Pat’s phone rang.