He hasn’t started a national league game. He hasn’t played one championship minute for the Mayo footballers.
Neil Douglas has made a few starts for Mayo in the pre-season FBD League since 2010. He’s made five substitute appearances for his county in the National Football League since 2010.
The Castlebar Mitchels forward is 28 now. He is in the prime of his life. He’s been widely proclaimed as the most consistent forward in Mayo club football over the last few years. He’s in the top three scoring forwards in the Mayo club Championship since 2012.
But he hasn’t made the breakthrough at county level.
Douglas was Castlebar’s best player as they went down to Corofin in the Connacht club decider on Sunday. It’s becoming time where more and more people are starting to think that surely, surely this man deserves a shot. Not a shot against NUIG in an FBD Leauge game in January.
A proper shot.
Let’s rewind back to February, 2011. The forward came on off the bench for James Horan’s Mayo side in their first two league games of the year against Down and Kerry. The lively attacker was showing well, had kicked a point and looked to have a bright future ahead of him in the green and red.
A pulled hamstring towards the end of the Kingdom clash led to Jason Doherty replacing him as a substitute. Doherty hasn’t looked back, scoring two goals in his next outing against Galway. Douglas’ chances have been few and far between, getting dropped from the panel that November.
2012 was a write off because of the injury. 2013, and Neil Douglas was back.
Top point-kicker in Mayo, Neil Douglas, was watching from the terraces today – need one say more! @MayoClub51
— Michael Gallagher (@MichaelGallMO) June 11, 2017
Since then, he’s been ripping up trees for Castlebar Mitchels. He played a key role in the club’s 2013 county final win. He was their main attacking outlet on their run to the 2014 All-Ireland club final.
The call never came.
In 2015, he scored a hat-trick of goals in the county decider as Castlebar defeated Breaffy. In 2016 he was the Championship’s top scorer in Mayo, scoring 2-38, with 2-17 coming from open play as the Mitchels made it two-in-a-row in Mayo.
Despite black card today, @MitchelsGaa's Neil Douglas has now scored 2-35 in club c/ship in the last 28 days, 2-17 from play! #mayogaa
— Edwin McGreal (@edmcgreal) November 5, 2016
In that time, he was called back into the training panel by Pat Holmes but he never got a proper run.
In early 2017, he scored 1-3 in an FBD League game against NUIG, but a wrist injury sustained in that game precluded his involvement thereafter. Douglas didn’t get a look in come championship.
Castlebar Mitchels were knocked out by Corofin on Sunday, but Douglas was again a class apart. He kicked three points from open play, and two from frees when his side needed him. He was their main outlet up top. His zip, low centre of gravity and skill in possession off the ball were eye-catching. His ability to involve teammates in the game was crucial, as he set up at least three or four more of their scores.
Neil Douglas has earned himself more than a few token appearances in the pointless pre-season FBD League. He’s earned himself more than five substitute appearances for Mayo in the National League.
The Castlebar Mitchels forward’s performances for his club over the last five years speak for themselves.
Now please don’t try and tell us Stephen Rochford has eight better forwards than Douglas at his disposal.
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