Keith Higgins frustrated by dual dilemma

Nobody told Mayo dual star Keith Higgins it was going to be easy trying to balance his football and hurling commitments but things couldn’t be more awkward for the talented all-rounder next weekend.

Higgins is captaining the Mayo footballers as they begin the defence of their Connacht SFC title against Galway at Pearse Stadium at 4pm on Sunday.

However, as the three-time All Star defender leads his team out on to the field in Salthill, he is likely to bump into some of his Mayo hurling colleagues as they head off to take their seats in the stand.

As luck would have it, the Christy Ring Cup promotion/relegation play-off between Mayo and Roscommon which throws-in at 1.45pm is the curtain-raiser to Sunday’s ‘big ball’ match in Galway.

Nobody wants to play for the Mayo hurlers next weekend more than Keith Higgins, but two games into one afternoon just won’t go.

The player’s close relationship with Mayo hurling boss, JP Coen, a fellow Ballyhaunis clubman, also makes missing out on Sunday’s match (which also doubles up as the Connacht Intermediate final) even more difficult.

“I’ve been trying to keep it going for the last few years but it was always going to come to a stage like this at some point,” explained the 30 year-old.

“Myself and JP [Coen] have been good friends for a very long time and, in a way, that makes it harder because you want to be there for them.”

Higgins added: “At 30 years of age, trying to play two games in two days, you’re just not getting the best out of yourself.”