LIKE SO MANY Irish currently living in Britain, Lorcan Mulvey moved away from home out of necessity.

Two years ago, the 28-year-old Cavan native was employed in the construction industry when the work simply dried up. Acting swiftly, he put a call into a friend living in London and two weeks later, his bags were packed.

Mulvey had been involved with Cavan’s senior football team for seven years, featuring in many league and McKenna Cup matches and finding himself in and out of the team when it came to the Championship.

A groin injury called a halt to the 2011 campaign and upon arriving in England, playing for London didn’t even cross his mind. He did join Fulham Irish, however, and went on to win the championship with a club in existence since 2006.

When Exiles manager Paul Coggins came calling, he duly accepted the offer to return to the inter-county game.

He admits being initially surprised by how well-organised the operation was in Ruislip.

“Yeah it was, definitely (better than I expected),” he says. “The information you get, the background, the nutritional information, it’s all fairly basic stuff if you stick to it.

“Probably the facilities are a small bit behind over here but it’s more difficult over here. I think it doesn’t really make much difference. All you need is a patch of grass and away you go. The gym is there for us whenever we want it and the work goes in in the winter time the same as it does at home. There’s not a whole pile of difference.”

Unlike some who have travelled to the likes of Canada, Australia and other further afield, the homesickness associated with emigration doesn’t apply to Mulvey.

Sure you’re an hour from home – six hours door to door. If you needed to get home now you could be home tonight. Homesickness has never affected me anyway but it’d be hard to see it affecting anyone. Maybe the city life would be a bit different for some of the guys.”

He does accept though, that most of the panel would be back in Ireland in an ideal world.

“I think if you asked the 30 guys here I’d say the majority of them would like to go home sooner rather than later but it doesn’t look like there’s anything going to pick up anytime soon.

“Look it, we’ll make the most of what we have here. There’s a good bunch of lads.”

Mulvey is congratulated after semi-final win over Leitrim win. Credit: INPHO/Mike Shaughnessy

After upsetting the odds with victories over Sligo and Leitrim, London contest their first ever provincial final on Sunday when they face huge favourites in Castlebar.

The semi-final against Leitrim was particularly special as his both parents hail from Carrick-on-Shannon while his uncles are involved in Leitrim football.

They were disappointed that Leitrim were out of the Connacht championship but they still had a nephew in a Connacht final. It was good that way.”

Coggins has named an unchanged team to take on Mayo meaning Mulvey starts in full forward – where he will be hoping to continue his fine scoring form (he hit five points against Leitrim) and help London to the unlikeliest of wins.

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