AS THE YEARS roll by, Mayo ace Stephen Coen never loses hope.
The county were serious All-Ireland contenders when the Hollymount-Carramore man joined James Horan’s panel in 2014.
He had already been there and done it when he captained their minors to glory in 2013.
He made his senior debut in the FBD League that winter, and his league bow followed in a round 2 loss to Tyrone in 2014.
At 29, he has tasted defeat in four All-Ireland senior finals, the last of which was against the Red Hands in 2021.
Mayo have failed to reach those heights since, and are at a crucial juncture in year three under Kevin McStay.
Galway have won three Connacht titles in a row and reached last summer’s final, as Mayo were beaten by Derry on penalties in the All-Ireland preliminary quarters.
The race for Sam in 2025 is wide open, and a host of teams are in with a genuine shout.
Mayo’s latest quest starts against Dublin at Croke Park tomorrow night and Coen is as confident as ever heading into season number 12.
He said: “I’d say the one thing that’s consistent every year is we always feel we’ve an opportunity. And I’d say a load of teams think that now.
“But it’s what are you doing, how are you being innovative, how are you going to maximise the opportunity? Because, as you said, everyone thinks they can win it, but why – and prove why you can do it.
“So you need to come with a plan, come with an idea, and who can execute it best, who’s the smartest, who can play in big games and execute.
“There’s no target, but I’m sure everyone will be insulted with that as well because they think they’re the target. Everyone feels they can do it, but just who can prove they’re going to do it.
“I would say, endeavour, attitude has always been brilliant. We’ve always worked really hard. But just look, the pack is so big. Anyone can beat anyone these days.”
But the winds of change have swept through McStay’s dressing room.
All-time championship top scorer Cillian O’Connor has taken a year out of inter-county football along with talismanic defender Padraig O’Hora.
Skipper Paddy Durcan is still on the road to recovery from torn cruciate knee ligaments and stalwart Aidan O’Shea, 34, is currently on honeymoon.
But Coen says a winter training camp in Belmullet last month burned off last year’s failings as they focus on the season ahead – and loves playing for Mayo more than ever.
SQUAD BUZZ
He said: “It absolutely flies. I suppose so much is happening, you have new players all the time and you’re trying to make them better.
“They’re making you better or making you look worse sometimes. New coaches all the time, it’s a great experience. I love doing it. When you enjoy something, it always goes quickly.
“So much happens in the season, so many games. The buzz and build up to it, then if you fall down, try to recover and review. It just goes so quick.
“Sometimes it’s nice to reflect at the end of the year. To be honest, no matter where you go, it’s about the group.
“Are they open to learning? Are they open to giving it all for that weekend and finding out a bit more about each other? That’s exactly what happened in Belmullet.
“Everyone came with energy, an open mind and excited for the season. So anything that we discussed or any activities we got involved in, people just went wholeheartedly into it.
“The success is the group, the location really doesn’t matter. But it was nice to have it in Mayo, It was nice to be based here. The people in Belmullet are massive supporters.
“The group of people involved, I’ve always got a buzz out of that, a buzz out of competing, a buzz out of trying to be as best as you can be, and doing that through others – so I’ll never lose that buzz.”