Horan on O’Connor: He changed himself from just a scorer to an absolute warrior
Cillian O'Connor of Mayo in the warm-up before the Division 1 match between Kerry and Mayo. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Mayo great Cillian O’Connor leaves intercounty football as a player who transformed his play from a pure scorer to much more, according to former manager James Horan.
Speaking on the Horan paid tribute to O’Connor’s legacy.
“A brilliant career with the finish he wanted and deserved,” said Horan.
“He is from my home club; I am watching him since he was seven or eight, I’d say. He was scoring outrageous scores all his life and all his career.
“Look, he is a brilliant fella for a start. He is just tuned in, a clever guy and that comes across in how he plays and how he prepares.
“To me he is the greatest penalty taker I’ve ever seen. His free-taking, his ability to score. Obviously he is the highest scorer in championship history but it is more than that for me. I saw him play for Ballintubber or Mayo minor, all the way up.
“He was a, I hope he doesn’t mind me saying, he was a sort of lazy, absolute clinic finisher. He was one of those guys, nudged the guy and a bit more clever than the age group he was playing with. The ball would fall in his hands and he’d hit it from 20 yards out; top corner, scoring 3-7, 3-8 in underage games.
“He came into the senior team; we brought him in in 2010, but he didn’t start against London. This is a stat for you. We had seven free-takers in that game against London. Check the records for that. Has there ever been more free-takers?
“Cillian started the next game at 18. He was an outrageous free-taker. But the biggest thing for me, his attitude and mindset, is that we became a really aggressive, hard-running and pressing team. He changed himself from just a scorer to an absolute warrior.
"A defender that happened to play corner-forward. Look back at big games, the image of him organising the press, he didn’t spare it either. He was physical. He was courageous. He added that to his game.”
The two-time All-Star suffered a serious Achilles injury in 2021 and Horan said the physical toll throughout was considerable. “He has put his body through hell.”
O’Connor made his Mayo debut in 2011 and retires with 129 appearances for the county, including 75 in championship.
“I remember one game; we were down in Cork. With a minute to go, we were relegated. We ended up winning by a point and in a semi-final. Cillian hit two sideline balls, one from each side. We won a sideline a point down; he kicked it to level it. Kickout went over the sideline and he kicked it over the bar to win the game.
“It was just incredible and no one playing that day was surprised.” He continued: “You mention Aidan (O'Shea) as well; they go hand-in-hand. They transformed Mayo football. I don’t think there is any doubt about that. If you think of what has come, Alan Dillon was a huge influence on Cillian at county and club.
"But think of Ryan, Tommy Conroy, the other guys coming through; the influence Cillian O’Connor has had on them, you will never be able to fully appreciate it.”
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