Mayo’s most important defender does what so many backs are scared to do

No holding back.

Brendan Harrison plays his corner back role in a manner that few other number twos or fours even dare. Many corner backs are content to let their marker win the ball, they'll be relatively tight on them, and they'll stand them up and play it safe in a way to ensure they won't be rounded easily. Brendan Harrison isn't like most corner backs. The 2016 All-Star races his marker out to the ball with tunnel vision that he's going to win it. He shows a disregard for his man, he shows him disrespect but that's just because he's confident that he will get to the O'Neills size five ahead of him. He is relentless, he is ball-headed and any corner forwards coming up against him know well they're in for a tough day. The Aghamore club man came up for discussion on The GAA Hour on Monday, and Colm Parkinson admitted that his first impressions of Harrison were clouded with reservations. Parkinson felt he was too committed, too frantic in his approach.

"I thought he was a bit too kamikaze. I thought he blind-headed went for the ball a bit too much and I thought a clever player would catch him out."

Wooly is reminded of John Keane, a former Westmeath corner back when he sees the Mayo man attack every ball with such vigour and intensity.

"I remember I used to mark John Keane, a double All-Star for Westmeath, and he bloody went for every ball. I often though 'Jesus, will you just let me get one ball where you don't punch it away like your life depends on it. Nothing ever came easy on him. I was like 'Will you relax for one ball?'

It's a risky game that Harrison plays, but his speed, his tenacity, his refusal to let that ball past him ensures that he is very rarely beaten. "Because he's so committed, if you've just got in front of him for that split second, he's literally gone, he's gone flying it. I think Harrison is like that, but if you're as fast, as tenacious, and as bloody good as these fellas, you can actually go for these balls and trust yourself," said Parkinson. Cian Ward was also struck with Harrison's insatiable hunger, and claimed that Mayo's high pressing style of football reduces the risk of Harrison being caught out, because their half backs and midfielders don't give the opposition any time to play that killer pass.

"His style of play suits perfectly the way Mayo play as well. This agressive contesting of every ball that comes in, by getting a fist in and by being as close as he can to put his man under pressure. "You often see with other defenders, they play with a more zonal type of defence. They'll allow a fella get the ball if he's not in the danger zone. You'd often see that where defenders let him get the ball, then stand him up and recycle. "He doesn't play like that. At the highest level, the pressure that is being put on the ball allows him to play like that.

He really is a breath of fresh air. You can listen to the lads lauding Harrison's play from The GAA Hour from 55"00'. https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/stephen-rochford-interview-kerry-below-par-andy-moran-brilliance