Mayo ahead Diarmuid O’Connor believes they’ve the expertise to beat the retirements of a few of their extra skilled gamers.

O’Connor was a part of the Mayo squad that fell in Dublin within the December All-Eire last at Croke Park, their third All-Eire last loss in a seven-year cross-county profession.

However after placing that setback behind him, the Ballintubber man hopes to enhance once more in 2021.

A major quantity of expertise and expertise left in January when Keith Higgins, Chris Barrett, Seamie O’Shea, Donal Vaughan, Tom Parsons and David Clarke known as on the finish of their time within the inexperienced and crimson jersey.

O’Connor believes, nevertheless, that the Mayo panel has the capability to evolve.

“The six guys can be huge losses, and never simply on the pitch,” he mentioned.

“Clearly, they’re all the very best gamers and at all times play their finest.

“It will likely be large losses on the pitch and in coaching. But additionally off the pitch and across the locker room.

“They had been huge leaders and nice pals.

“Simply haven’t got them round, we’ll miss them.

“However fortunately in Mayo we’ve got an enormous array of expertise arising.

“I feel it was proven final 12 months and there have been numerous newbies.

“The common age of the crew was a lot decrease than in earlier years.

“A number of guys got here and there might have been extra.

“We’ve got numerous expertise arising, however these guys are going to be lacking each on and off the pitch.”

When Mayo kicked off his Connacht championship marketing campaign towards Leitrim final November, supervisor James Horan made seven debuts, with three of these new faces – Oisin Mullin, Eoghan McLaughlin and Tommy Conroy – all nominated for All Stars. Mullin was named on the nook of the again on this All Star crew.

At 26, O’Connor – who was named Younger Participant of the Yr in 2015 and 2016 – is now one of many oldest statesmen on the panel, as ‘Younger Guys’ let him know ‘.

“It is scary how the years go by so rapidly,” mentioned O’Connor, a instructor at St Gerald’s Faculty in Castlebar.

“It is gasoline, speaking to a few the so known as younger guys … I am nonetheless a younger boy to me, however that they had an excellent snort, telling me I wasn’t anymore.”

“It is nice that the fellows who’ve been there have made everybody keep on their toes.

“You would see the expertise that was there final 12 months and the affect of the brand new gamers.

“There can be extra this 12 months too, so there can be locations to be received.

“The competitors within the crew can be big.

“It is nice, it is an thrilling time for Mayo.”