Nothing comes easy.
Andy Moran is now 33-years-old, and in his 13th senior season for Mayo, but he’s playing with the enthusiasm and verve of a youngster in his first year on the panel.
Moran has been reinvigorated this year, flourishing in his role closer to the opposition goal than normal, and his 3-21 from play so far in the Championship ensures he holds a five point cushion over teammate Cillian O’Connor in the open-play scoring charts.
The Ballaghaderreen man dazzles opposition defenders with his varied, but constant movement, and his unrivalled ability to get a shot off, even when space is at a minimum, and time is too.
Just like Moran has been breathtaking up top, 2016 All-Star corner back Brendan Harrison has been equally relentless in defence.
The Aghamore man, despite his light 12-stone frame, is one of the most aggressive corner backs in the game, and his fearless playing style of competing for every ball with his marker, instead of shadowing him like many corner backs do, ensures nothing comes easy off him.
Mayo have had three weeks to prepare for Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Dublin, and we can only imagine the ferocious training battles that have went down between Moran and Harrison over that period.
Andy would have been moving around the field like a jack-in-the-box, while Harrison would have been up his tail.
Harrison was speaking to Midwest Radio recently, when he revealed all about the value he gets out of marking a forward of Andy Moran’s calibre.
It’s a great way to get the competitive juices flowing, according to the 26-year-old, and ensures that when the big day arrives, no opposition can frighten him.
“We’re all well prepared coming into these games. We’re out training week on week, marking the likes of Andy Moran, Cillian and these lads. So you’re well fit for any other opposition that comes up against you.
“It’s hugely competitive… In training, you’re preparing each other as best as we can for the opposition, and everybody is looking to get that jersey, to be involved on the day,” he added.
This ensures that the players are battle-hardened, that they’re well used to the competitiveness, and intensity of Championship action, and though Moran has been unmarkable all year, Harrison feels he has had his measure in training.
“We’re training hard, we’re marking each other hard, and I’m sure we’ll have each other ready for battle again.
“It’s usually me that comes off the better of it, but Andy will probably say different,” said the corner back.
If he’s able to manage Moran, he’ll be able to manage anything Dublin throw at him on Sunday.
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