After two rounds in the Allianz Football League, Mayo was still looking for their first point in Division 1. They had just faced a tough loss to Galway, and Aidan O’Shea was still recovering from minor surgery and on his honeymoon. He knew there was a lot of criticism coming their way. But now, with just days before the Division 1 final against Kerry, he’s feeling good. At 34, he’s been through ups and downs like this before. Mayo Building Momentum Says O’Shea.
Facing the Criticism
When talking about the outside criticism, O’Shea downplayed its impact on the team. “It’s outside noise,” he said. “We’re focused on ourselves. It’s true, though, that there’s often some hype whenever Mayo has a game worth talking about.”
Mayo’s journey to the league final wasn’t easy. They got a narrow win over Donegal last weekend to secure their spot. But if Donegal had taken their late chances—like that missed penalty—Mayo could have been facing relegation. O’Shea even joked about being confused over who they were playing next. “I was wandering around thinking we were up against Dublin,” he laughed. “Then someone said, ‘We’re actually playing Kerry,’ and I was lost!” Mayo Building Momentum Says O’Shea.
Getting Used to the New Rules
Paul Flynn, a former Dublin player, mentioned that a matchup between Mayo and Kerry is a great way to test the new rules, thanks to both teams’ fast style. Earlier this season, Mayo got some backlash for not adapting to the changes quickly enough. O’Shea pushed back on this, asking if any team had really figured it all out. “Has anyone really nailed them? I don’t think so. The rules even changed halfway through the league,” he pointed out.
He acknowledged that Mayo had a rough start, but he insisted it wasn’t just about the new rules. “We just weren’t good enough. We could have won the first game, but in the second one, we just didn’t show up.” Their win against Tyrone was more about being the better team that day.
Looking Forward to the Championship
In their last Division 1 final, Mayo beat Galway but then got knocked out by Roscommon in the first round of the Championship. This time, they’ll be up against Sligo a week after the league final. O’Shea feels they’re in a better spot now than last year. “Last time, we had a lot of injuries, and we had no excuses—Roscommon were just better. But now we’re in a good position for both this weekend and the next.”
No matter what happens on Sunday, the O’Shea family will be smiling. With ties to Kerry through his dad’s club Laune Rangers and his wife Kristin being from Tralee, O’Shea knows there will be some mixed loyalties. “She’s a Rockie,” he said, referring to her connection to Austin Stacks. “But she’ll wear Mayo colors. No arguments there. Some of my relatives might be on the fence, but that’s just part of the fun.”
