Mulvey enjoying the buzz before Connacht final

Cóilín Duffy

It's a Tuesday evening in London GAA's headquarters at the Emerald Grounds in Ruislip and Lorcan Mulvey can certainly feel the buzz in the air.

The Butlersbridge native is a key part of this London squad, contesting their first Connacht Final this weekend, where last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Mayo will provide stiff opposition.

It's an unusual sight in Ruislip, a media/open evening where TV stations from RTE and TV3 to ITV London and Sky Sports News are busy doing interviews, while the London 'stars' are handing coaching tips to the stars of the future, before embarking on a tough physical training session.
Mulvey is keen to embrace the moment.

'It's a good feeling, bit of excitement about the place. We'll let our hair down for the evening I suppose. We worked hard last night and we'll work hard during the week. You have to enjoy these moments as well,' he said.
'A lot of hard work over the last while to get to this stage. Not just about the Championship.
'There's been a lot of work going on for months and months and I suppose it's getting to the business end of things now. Probably the biggest game in London's history is coming up. It's getting the head right now at this stage, the physical work is done.'
Mulvey was a key player as London disposed of Leitrim, only after a replay at the semi-final stage.
It earned him a place on the short-list for the GAA-GPA OPEL Footballer of the Month, alongside Meath's Graham Reilly and Ger Brennan of Dublin.

Reilly eventually scooping the accolade, but heady times for London football, with midfielder Mark Gottsche of Galway creating history last month, by becoming the first Exile to take that particular award.

Mulvey was delighted to be considered for the gong.

'It was a nice touch to be even nominated. I suppose it's a sign of what's going on. I got a bit of shock now when I read it myself. I probably wouldn't have put myself down for it.

'It's good to see London footballers getting recognised for the work that they are putting in and what's going on here. I suppose it was half deserved too. There's a lot of commitment and a lot of sacrifices being put in and guys are enjoying it. I suppose we have nothing to lose in any game. We are going out and are expressing ourselves.'

And what of Sunday's opponents?
London brought Mayo to extra-time a few years ago in the Championship at Ruislip, in James Horan's first game in charge, but the visitors eventually prevailed.

'He has done a great job there with them, and their working mentality is unbelievable, the way they were able to keep Galway in their own half the whole game was brilliant. I think he has done a great job there and it's not going to change. They probably have bigger games in their sights than our game, but we have to try and match that work-rate I suppose. If we are in with any sort of a chance, we have to match that work-rate. I suppose that's what we are aiming to do and we'll try and go from there I suppose.'

Monday's All-Ireland Qualifier draw pitted Cavan against Derry, with the winner to face the loser of Sunday's Connacht Final.

Mulvey says it's great to see his native county doing well at present.

'It would be good to see Cavan push on, there's a good young team there. They have a lot of unfinished business to be honest,' he said.

'They are great footballers and a very fit team, with a very good work ethic as well. They are looking at the top teams in Ireland - fit, hard-working teams and that's what's winning trophies. They are trying to copy Donegal I suppose all the time.

'Mayo are the same. I suppose they are a bit bigger and stronger those teams, and that's making the difference. Cavan are a young team, hopefully they all stick together and don't go their separate ways too soon and keep driving on, because there's definitely success coming to Cavan if they keep going the same direction.'