In the firing line of all comers

PAT HOLMES adjusts his blindfold this week as the latest firing squad assembles

PAT HOLMES adjusts his blindfold this week as the latest firing squad assembles. All summer he's been dodging the bullets quite comfortably, but still they line him up against the wall. On Sunday, it's Graham Geraghty whose high profile destruction of Tyrone gives him admirable credentials.

"Pat's an amazing man," says John O'Mahony who had Holmes on his 1989 AllIreland panel. "A lot of Mayo supporters have been expecting him to be destroyed in every match. Among ordinary punters, there's admiration for the way he's played this year. The original perception that he would be a weakness hasn't proved that way at all."

Martin Carney's intercounty career was ending as Holmes's began. "I remember him as very anxious to learn and very confident, although he was quite right sided which limited his movement and range of activity."

His career looked to have slipped between the stools of being a peripheral figure during the successful era of the late 1980s and a first choice player during the county's directionless days earlier this decade. After the Connacht final defeat by Leitrim in 94, Holmes threw his hat at the inter county scene.

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His disillusion was dispelled only when his former Castlebar team mate and close friend John Maughan was appointed Mayo manager a year ago. His recall was a risk. Friendship and the good of the team would be hermetically separated in Maughan's mind.

Having played with John Maughan as well as being a friend of his," says O'Mahony, "a come back was on the cards as soon as Maughan took over. The confidence Maughan showed in him is paying off. He helps the blend of the team with Nallen and Connelly beside him in the half backs. He's not spectacular, but he's dependable."

"It was a risk," says Carney, "but that's the beauty of John (Maughan). He's not afraid to take them."

Dependability was at a premium during the successful bid to vacate Division Three. Holmes slotted in at wing back, but in his first public defiance of the firing squad, he gave a fine, improvised display at full back on the in form Seamus Downey as injury weakened Mayo lost a League semifinal to Derry.

Carney believes there were a number of factors in the development of Holmes's career. "I noticed early on that to play good football, Pat needed to be fit. Between 1993 and 95, his job changed and he had to move around the country. Living in hotels and out of suitcases didn't suit him and his fitness level dropped. Since John took over, he's regained it."

His wandering career with the Ulster Bank led Holmes to play for a number of clubs - he currently plays in Cavan. He was at midfield for Castlebar Mitchels on the same team as Maughan, the year the club reached the All Ireland club final. Friendship and fitness aren't the only things he has got from Maughan.

"He's learned a lot," says Carney. For instance, in the Connacht final, as soon as Val Daly came on, Holmes took him up and walked into him. Pat Holmes, a year or two ago, would never have thought of doing that."

Developing physical confidence has combined with his given skills of handling and a good positional sense to make him a very useful asset to the team this season. Pace is his major deficiency and Geraghty is a flier.

But as the firing squad circles for the last time, Billy O'Shea the Kerry captain who's no slower than Geraghty can ruefully advise Meath not to get their hopes up.