Higgins is one of the all-time greats
TYNAN'S TAKE BY STUART TYNAN
IN addition to Donal Vaughan, David Clarke, Tom Parsons, Seamus O’Shea and Chris Barrett calling time on their inter-county careers, Keith Higgins is now the sixth Mayo player in the space of a few weeks to hang the Green and Red jersey.
For more than 15 years, Higgins has been excellence personified. After winning Young Footballer of the Year in his debut year in 2006, as well as captaining Mayo to an All-Ireland Under-21 title, everyone watching knew the Ballyhaunis native was going to be something special.
His versatility and talent meant he made an impact everywhere on the pitch. Whether at half-forward, half-back or in latter years as a full-back, Higgins was always one of Mayo’s best performers. You could certainly make a case for Higgins being Mayo’s absolute best of this era.
His battles with Kerry’s James O’Donoghue in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-finals were amongst his greatest duels. He started the 2013 final against Dublin at half-forward before reverting to his more familiar defensive duties. His blistering pace from the back caused defences up and down the country on numerous occasions, with outstanding goals in the 2017 quarter-final replay against Roscommon or in the 2019 league encounter in Tyrone.
Like the other men who have hung up their boots over the past month, there is only one medal that has eluded Higgins. But it won’t – and shouldn’t – take anything away from the sterling service that he has given to Mayo football.
An interesting aspect of his retirement announcement was that he was stepping away from inter-county football, with no mention made of hurling.
He was centre-back for the Nicky Rackard success in 2016, nine years after being the only Mayo player in a Connaught side of Galway hurlers that played an interprovincial decider in Croke Park.
One last hurrah for ‘Zippy’ with the small ball perhaps?
CAN HENEGHAN GO PRO?
The Masters begins this weekend, with the world's top 24 players battling it out for one of the first big prizes in the 2021 darting calendar.
With it being the first tournament for new world champion and world number one Gerwyn Price, all eyes will be on 'The Iceman' to see how he will cope with another level of pressure and expectation.
But in a few weeks’ time, over 650 hopefuls from all over the world will enter the PDC's Qualifying School to claim a two-year Tour Card with the organisation.
One of those hopefuls is one of the best darts players this county has produced in many years in 'Little Dog' Martin Heneghan. I've played against him a few times, and got my backside well and truly handed to me on every occasion!
There have been so many players from these shores making an impact in darting circles. It would be brilliant to see one from our own county get to compete with the very best. Good luck, Martin.