Boyle won’t forget winning feeling

Colm Boyle has played down the significance of the injury which led to his concussion and retirement from Saturday’s International Rules second test.

The Mayo defender was forced to leave the field after being knocked out by a late Lindsay Thomas tackle in the first quarter and had no recollection of the incident.

“I think I was just on the pitch and I just remember going for a ball, being in mid-air, going to fist it and after that I just remember waking up in the dressing room,” he said.

“It was disappointing I suppose, personally, the way it went but delighted with the result. I came out again before half-time and the boys were well in control so it was great.

“When I came back out I was still a bit dizzy but once I saw the scoreboard I was fine. You kind of knew the game was done and dusted. It would have been worse if the game was a couple of points down or something.

“Someone just said I hit the ground, that he caught me perfect coming in from the side and maybe I got an elbow in the face or something. I’m not 100% sure. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. We got a great result. I enjoyed the occasion and the few weeks.”

As for the future of the series, Boyle said the Ireland players don’t care too much about the AFL’s attitude.

“Everybody knows it wasn’t maybe their strongest team that they sent over. You know, that’s up to them.

“I think we just concentrate on ourselves and I think if we win every series we’d be happy enough with that. The Australians can look after themselves.”

After losing the All-Ireland final, the hybrid game experience was a tonic for him and his fellow Mayo team-mates Kevin McLoughlin, Lee Keegan and Aidan O’Shea.

“Maybe it took my mind off things for the last couple of weeks. I think I got the phone call the Wednesday after the All-Ireland and when you’re a bit down in the dumps it definitely gave me a bit of a lift.

“It probably softened the blow a half a percent. It took my mind off it but only for these few weeks. I’m sure come the middle of winter when I get back at it again it’ll be still fairly fresh in the memory so it’ll be something to drive me on again.”

He regrets selector James Nallen’s departure but never doubted that manager James Horan would return for another season and is adamant Mayo have edged nearer to winning an All-Ireland title.

“We have to be closer. We’re as close as we’ve ever been. But everyone is starting back afresh next year. Next year we’re back first round of the championship and we’re there to be hit at, especially in Connacht. There’s a long road back but we’re taking one game at a time to get back.”