FOR AIDAN O’SHEA, the 2021 All-Ireland semi-final was a day of contrasts.
Beating six-in-a-row All-Ireland winners Dublin was possibly the greatest day in modern history for Mayo GAA. It was fitting that the Dublin dynasty should fall under Mayo’s sword after the many years that the Green and Red had spent under the heel of their nemesis. The manner of their unlikely comeback from six points down at half-time added to the significance of the day as well.
Indeed, O’Shea played his part, but it was not a game that will be remembered among his greatest hits. He struggled to have a positive influence, and by the 49th minute, he had been called ashore. The infamous shot he missed from in front of the posts after claiming a mark in the first half summed up his drab display.
Despite that colossal result, Mayo still failed to end their All-Ireland hoodoo as Tyrone ended up lifting the Sam Maguire that year instead. O’Shea didn’t find any redemption in that final either.
Many have been writing his inter-county obituary ever since, but it’s almost two years later, and he’s still here. And at 32, he’s still central to Mayo’s game. On Saturday night in Castlebar, he found himself standing in front of the posts again, and this time he didn’t miss. With the help of a deflection off Tyrone’s Frank Burns, O’Shea scored a goal which helped his side maintain their unbeaten start in Division 1.
The trajectory of O’Shea’s career is comparable to that of retired Galway hurling star, Joe Canning. Their exact number of individual accolades might not align figure for figure, but their names have been widely known from when they were young. In a sense, they grew up under the spotlight.
When their respective teams shine, the result is attributed largely to their input. And when a game ends in defeat, O’Shea and Canning often become the lightning rod for criticism.
O’Shea started out as sensation at minor level, and progressed seamlessly onto the senior squad, making his debut in 2009. He’s been a mainstay ever since. Even throughout all the revolutions, changes in management and player turnover, O’Shea has remained a cornerstone figure in the team. Some of Mayo’s finest have exited the dressing-room in recent years, including the great Lee Keegan, but O’Shea is still carrying the torch.
His longevity is complemented by his versatility in the team; he has played in almost every line for Mayo. Typically, we tend to see him playing in attacking positions, either on the ’40 or at the edge of the square operating as a target man. But he has also played at midfield and even in the full-back line.
When Mayo were facing Kerry in the 2017 All-Ireland SFC semi-final and pondering who should mark Kieran Donaghy, the then-Mayo boss Stephen Rochford turned to Aidan O’Shea for both the draw and the replay. The experiment was declared by many to be a failure in the first game, as Donaghy scored a point and was involved in the creation of 2-4.
But Mayo persisted with the O’Shea v Donaghy gameplan the second day and were rewarded for their patience. Donaghy failed to score and O’Shea nullified his influence to the extent that Donaghy’s day finished with a red card late after striking his marker. Mayo advanced to the All-Ireland final and O’Shea had produced an emphatic response. When the need was greatest, he didn’t falter.
The Breaffy man’s success in that battle was all the more impressive given that some of the greatest specialist full-backs have crumbled under Donaghy. O’Shea excelled even without the experience.
That sojourn aside, O’Shea tends to thrive at the other end of the pitch, and has two All-Star awards in attacking positions. His other gong, in 2013, was for his performances at midfield.
That’s not to suggest that O’Shea is above comment or criticism. There are some blots on his copybook from games where he was less than illuminating. But even with all the doubts that continue to surround him, he’s still here, and is enjoying something of a rebirth under Kevin McStay.
Unusually, he’s wearing the 13 jersey these days, but still seems to be operating through the central channels and offering a target at the edge of the square. As a pundit McStay was often strong on his belief that the Breaffy man needed to be deployed closer to goal. He’s backed that up so far, strong showings against Armagh and Kerry followed up on by last Saturday night against Tyrone.
Mayo picked up their second win on the bounce and O’Shea put in a solid shift in the engine room. He kicked a goal in the 25th minute after gathering a pass just outside the square from Enda Hession, who also impressed.
Shortly after that, he made an important run to create space for the incoming Conor Loftus to score a point and extend their advantage. His spatial awareness and timing are the qualities of O’Shea’s game that aren’t always visible.
James Carr increases Mayo's lead following a sublime pass from Aidan O'Shea. pic.twitter.com/ncoyyBKfOT
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 25, 2023
His highlight of the evening arrived on the half-hour mark when he delivered a perfect pass into the hands of James Carr from distance to grab Mayo’s second goal. Suddenly, they were six points clear and the foundation for their win had been laid down.
O’Shea was replaced by Cillian O’Connor after 59 minutes with Mayo’s win all but assured by that stage.
McStay’s side are currently top of the Division 1 table and their supremacy, along with O’Shea’s good form, will be tested this weekend when they face Roscommon, who are just behind them in second place.
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Don’t see how TV3 could honestly think that more people would want to see Leicester City V Athletico Madrid over Real Madrid v Bayern Munich..
@bryan: Because Tv3.
Man alive i hate Jamie Vardy please God let Athletico knock them out.
Come on Athletico.
I hope AM hammer lEicester. Horrible club.
Never a yellow card and Ronaldo offside, money talks
Leicester , real madrid, juve and Monaco in an accumy . Fiver returns 715 quid. Not very likely but worth a fiver
@William Motley: that’s to win over 90 mins rather than qualify for semi finals ?
@John Ryan: indeed
@William Motley: tasty bet but Leicester the weakest link methinks
Why the fxck does tv3 have any sport the pundits are the worst ive seen and do t even get me started on the ads and then theres the small matter of picking two defensive teams in a one way tie instead of real and bayern
@bryan: missing one of the best games so far because of TV3.
Ronaldo was Offside.
come on Leicester city , keep the fairytale going! !!
That wasn’t even a foul. Brutal refereeing.
Fair play to Robben. It feels like he has been around forever, and he’s still one of the best players on one of the best teams in the world.
Pity nobody in other countries is interested in GAA, which I play twice a week – and then go home to watch, on TV, the EPL/Champions League.
What’s your point
There’s feckin loads of GAA on tele.
Linesman on the take here it seems. Disgraceful no call.
Vidal should never haven been sent off, and Ronaldo’s second goal should not have stood. Calamity refs in this competition.
Oh god Vardy has just scored, come on Atletico dont lose to those hammer-throwers
100 Champions league for Ronaldo. Fantastic record.
CR7 strikes again! Another record
Hummels is an outstanding Centre Half.
@Nollaig Elliot: spoke to soon
Bayern will prevail and the other game is 50/50
@John Ryan: Not a chance. East Madrid victory. Ronaldo to shine as always.
@Enda McCallion: Easy Madrid
Any good streams for the 2nd half?
@Robert Clifford: http://www.srf.ch if you hide your ip address
So will TV3 not show the extra-time from Madrid v Bayern?
GOAL! Ronny strikes again.
@SuzukaYuiMoa: Ronny?
Wonder if tv3 will put the extra time on in the other game
Munich taking a bit of a tonking here now. Well done Vidal.
ET in Madrid. 30 more mins, I think we could be headed for Pens.
True for what people say. That Ronaldo is a cod…..
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: i always thought he looked a bit of a trout myself
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: i always thought he looked like a bit of a trout meself