SEAMUS O’SHEA HAS become the latest Mayo player to retire from inter-county football.
The veteran midfield powerhouse calls time on his 13-year senior career, and follows in the footsteps of team-mates Donal Vaughan, David Clarke and Tom Parsons, who have all stepped away in recent days.
O’Shea made his Green and Red senior debut against Derry in the 2008 league before getting his first taste of championship action against Sligo in 2010. In total, he made 96 appearances for the Westerner’s — 51 of those in the championship.
The Breaffy star finishes up with seven Connacht crowns and one national league title from 2019.
O’Shea has an All-Ireland U21 honour to his name from 2006, and three provincial medals at that level from ’06, ’07 and ’08.
While ever present with Mayo, the 35-year-old has also been a key player for his club, delivering county junior and intermediate titles in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Himself and his brother, Aidan, ensure Breaffy consistently challenge in the senior ranks now.
“After 13 years, I would like to announce my retirement from the Mayo senior football team,” O’Shea wrote in a statement released by Mayo GAA this morning.
Séamie O’Shea has today confirmed his retirement after 13 seasons in the Mayo squad. Mayo GAA thanks Séamie for his commitment over a many number of years at both underage and senior level and wishes him all the best for the future.https://t.co/NKj28I8Ex5 #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/bQlXaZRm1z
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) January 6, 2021
“I’m hugely grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout my career. I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant support and encouragement as well as my club Breaffy for nurturing my development. I would also like to thank all of my former teammates, management teams, coaches, medical staff, supporters and everyone who has been involved in this journey.
“I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have played for Mayo alongside an extraordinary group of players. I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to do it for so long and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“Mayo football is in good hands and I look forward to watching my former teammates compete and win over the coming years. Séamie.”
Mayo GAA chairman Liam Moffatt added: “Séamie O’Shea today hangs up his Mayo jersey after many great years of service and for this and on behalf of Mayo GAA, I want to thank him most sincerely.
“A minor finalist in 2005 & a midfield anchor on a Mayo team that claimed All-Ireland U21 glory in 2006, he went on to have a stellar career at senior level. His quiet, unassuming manner overlay a steely resolve to be the best he could be.
A true warrior in the Mayo jersey at underage and for 13 years in the senior panel. All the best to Seamie O'Shea in his inter-county retirement and we'd like to congratulate him on his fantastic career and service to his county! pic.twitter.com/5BI8Bx8cBI
— Breaffy GAA (@BreaffyGAA) January 6, 2021
“His “end to end” running power and brilliant defensive midfield capabilities were taken from a second to none commitment and work ethic. This commitment was typified by the many miles he travelled over the years to attend training and games while based outside the county.
“I would like to wish Séamie and his family all the very best for the future.”
Seven inter-county retirements have been confirmed in Mayo and Kerry — Shane Enright, Jonathan Lyne and Brian Kelly — alone in the past few days.
- Originally published at 10.25
Subscribe to The42′s new member-led GAA Championship show with Marc Ó Sé and Shane Dowling.
Very hard on these boys retiring after getting to all the finals and been defeated,just hard luck they have competed against possibly the best football team of a generation.(and ran them close at times)
@Paully Kells: well said Paul, super players who missed out on Sam due to a combination of hard luck, a few occasions when they shot themselves in the foot and also coming up again the greatest team ever in Dublin. Was at the Mayo Kerry game in Limerick in 14, what a game, they were like gladiators. Hate to see all the keyboard warriors on here slagging them off.
@Paully Kells: great to see these lads getting the acknowledgment they deserve; only team to give the dubs a game every year
It’s a lot easier to keep coming back when you’ve a Celtic cross in your back pocket
But these boys kept coming- would b great to see Cillian o Connor and and company walk the steps some day
@Mike Kennedy: @richard shows how good these boys actually were when they ran the dubs close and a handful for a good kerry team, in any other time they would have won their Sams.fine footballers.
@Paully Kells: so close. Couple of draws and couple of very narrow losses. Small differences can give the edge. That Dublin side is the greatest ever. Still think it’s unfair they play all matches at home. Imagine the difference cum all ireland Sunday. Getting out of ur own bed and heading to a pitch ur on every week compared to getting up in a hotel bed in a shared room. Hotel full of fans. Everyone pulling out of them and headin to play Dublin in their own pitch wit a designated stand for their fans. It’s a national stadium not dublinds pitch.
@Martin Glynn: they should move the national stadium so Martin is that it?
@Paully Kells: good man Pauly. Well said.
@Martin Glynn: Would you give over
@my name: Move the National Stadium to a green field site bang in the centre of Ireland on the Canal network for easy access
@Lorcan Quinlan: shoot that email off stat
@my name: no comment from you today on trump articles ?
You were his number 1 supporter before the elections in November
When the GAA Stops pumping millions into Dublin and eventually levels the play fields and Dublin starts losing again like they use to before the millions, will you stop supporting Dublin then just like you have stopped supporting trump now
@Jim Beatty: He will stop supporting Liverpool too when they finish second in the Premiership.
@my name: no but make Dublin play sum championship games out of it. There’s more to Ireland than the pale. Dublin best team in history of game. No need to give them home advantage In every game.
@Barry Tallon: give over what? 2 draws. Two by a point was it? Vaughan red card cost another. Two own goals in another? Fine margins as I said
@Jim Beatty: not a peep out of you on the John Connelan article I see. You know the one that made a laugh of your quoting him about funding to “registered” players notion. The article that proved you hadn’t a clue what you’re talking about! Nothing to say there Jim. I’ve been supporting Dublin my entire life Jim and why would that stop. Money or no money as you say it, we’ll still win titles in 3rd gear. You can sit in Dunmore waiting on traffic lights moaning about Dublin too
@Anto Whelan: you pretend to be a dub. Why would anyone do that. Are you ashamed of your county?
@Martin Glynn: they do Martin. Literally every year
Dropping like flies in Mayo
Met this man picking up his coffee in the Enfield Applegreen filling station on the way home to Dublin. Not a big fan of going up and disturbing sports stars/celebs going about their normal life but this time I thought sure why not. Well worth it, gent of a man! More than happy to take a snap and small talk about the football, the Dubs, Mayo etc. All the best Seamie! A GREAT on and off the field!
How many times has he lost in an All-Ireland final, replays included?
@Seosamh: He had to get there to lose them. How many did you get to?
@Tom McBride: You could also argue Tom that Seosamh has won the same number of All Ireland’s for his county as Seamie O’Shea has for his.
@Tom McBride: seeing as your asking … How many did you get to ? ( I got to all of them and cheered the Dubs from The Hogan).
@Tom McBride: in every sport their are winners and losers, no shame in it. He was a great player, it was a genuine question and part of his story, it should be included in the article.
@Tom McBride: How funny would it be if that was Pat Spillane, Ger Power or Philly McMahon…. mad reply like, “well, I did win 8 all-Ireland’s”
@Local Ore: gas seeing mcmahon in there with the footballers
@david lydon: keep chewing those sour grapes..will make your tears sweeter.
Why do players have to announce their retirement? Social media, fame & recognition should mean nothing in the pursuit all Ireland’s. I admire their dedication in Mayo but suspect misguided ego at times
@Caddyshack: So there won’t be questions from people about where they are and such.
One a day
Well done seamie there will b more yet dis was always on the cards as alot of these lads are now on der 30s and hav a long hard road with mayo expect more possibly Boyle Keegan Higgens
What I would like to see is the runners up in the All Ireland Finals being presented with runners up medals to recognize their achievement in reaching the final. It is quite demeaning to see the losing team standing isolated and despondent getting no tangible recognition.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: you do know the winning players don’t get medals on the day either
Please take big brother with you.. you were awesome and you certainly can feel proud of your achievements.. the best of good luck in retirement
@Jim Hickey: Aidan is the little one