IN MAYO AT the moment, the All-Ireland talk surrounds Sunday week and the wonder whether that 65-year run of defeats and disappointments and heartache is going to come to an end.
The desire to lift Sam Maguire may be all-consuming for Mayo GAA but for one player in the county, 2016 has proved how attainable All-Ireland titles are.
Tomorrow in Semple Stadium, David Kenny goes in search of his third All-Ireland medal this year alone.
Back in April he was corner-back in Ennis when Mayo’s ability to poach goals proved instrumental in getting past Cork at U21 football level.
In June he was midfield in Croke Park, putting in a shift as Mayo overcame Armagh to land the Nicky Rackard Cup.
And tomorrow Kenny will be an integral member of the Mayo team trying to see off Meath in the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 B hurling final.
“Realistically going into the year, I didn’t think this could happen,” states Kenny.
“There was always the potential of winning an All-Ireland but winning the three of them would be great. I’ll sit back in a few years time, look back on it and maybe realise what I have achieved.”
Kenny is from a pocket of Mayo where hurling occupies a status comparable to football. He hurls with Tooreen and Aghamore is his football club.
“We’re trying to build (hurling) at the minute. We’re back up in Christy Ring now where we we probably should be. Hopefully can get to a final now or semi-final.
“I’d love to play in a Christy Ring final now. We’ve won the Nicky Rackard but after seeing the boys run out afterwards for the Christy Ring, it kind of hit home, that’s where we want to be.
“It’s probably the best Mayo could get, be great to see us make a dent in that.”
He may have climbed to the senior grade in hurling already for Mayo but a runout in the FBD League and seeing a bunch of his U21 teammates get call-up’s, mean Kenny is not neglecting his senior football ambitions either.
“I’d love to play football, I’d love to keep the two going. Realistically it’s not always possible.
“I’d love to get into that football team but it’s very hard to. I was in there for the FBD, getting a few games. Since the U21′s we’ve had five involved.
“The main two – Stephen Coen and Diarmuid O’Connor – three others then Conor Loftus, Eoin O’Donoghue and Brian Reape. It’s a tough team to get into.”
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