Mayo GAA Discussion

You said "Aido has let the county down in every big game for years"

When I pointed out he has performed against every team in the big games except Dublin you then backtracked to say you that's what you meant.

You're right about one thing......You are confused.

I was just thinking the very same thing. Donegal 2013, Kerry 2014 (both game) and 2017, Tyrone 2016 are just a few that were excellent performances from Aido.

I think there's a very peculiar narrative that goes around outside of the county with Aido, majority of it is dung, to quote Oisin McConville. There's nonsense about him having some sort of obsession with media interviews. Ger Brennan came out with the same shite on the GAA hour a while back and Parkinson pulled him up on it and asked him for specifics, stating that Parkinson had been asking Aido to come on the Podcast since 2016 and Aido declined every time - Brennan then started spoofing and proceeded to talk about Conor Mortimer (who hasn't played for Mayo since 2012).

Malachy Clerkin had a great article after the Galway game on Aidan O’Shea in particular and how much **** that is thrown at him on social media and often times by pundits/former players. Clerkin also called out some folk on Twitter about this (link to thread and article https://twitter.com/malachyclerkin/status/1419546750503858176?s=21) and highlighted misconceptions about Aidan’s media presence. He engaged with a few of the usual trolls, no surprise where the most of them were from, highlighting that Fenton and Kilkenny had easily done more media than Aidan, and you'll see a number of the troll posts then deleted, knowing then that they were talking through their hole I suppose.

I've seen a number of ex players, most from the same county, all at the same craic and all having a sly dig. I suppose it's a way for them to try to stay relevant. There's a load of Dog and army sites that are just the absolute dregs of social media that feed all of this too. It's curious really, and again, most of it all from one county. You'd wonder why they would bother. I mean if he was that poor a player, why go to the effort?. And if your Team has truly deserved their success, then why spend the time trying to wind up opposition players or their fans?.

The funniest thing is now you have a number of these lads who have been quite happy to see Aido being vilified throughout the years getting awfully pious because of some of the reaction to the incident between Small and McLoughlin on Saturday, moaning about the impact on Small's "mental health" and wellbeing. Case in point Paul Flynn who in takes a bizarre stance on it in my view given he was as former head of the GPA n the Second Captains podcast. He trots on about how the attention on the incident is all very mean and unfair before being comprehensively schooled by Oisin McConville. I've only managed to get 4 minutes of that but it's a remarkable exchange. It's well worth a listen.

Where were all these experts on mental health and wellbeing when their own colleagues and county men were at exactly that with Aido (and a number of other Mayo players - Hennelly, Cillian, Keegan) over the years?. Why were they not calling that out then?. Didn't suit them then I suppose.

I mean not everyone has to like Aido as a footballer or even as a person, but the number of times the line has been crossed over the years and now all of a sudden it's an area of concern, when it's one of their own on the receiving end, it's quite hypocritical really.

Confirmation of the glad and not so glad tidings.

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2021/08/18/oisin-mullin-on-course-to-be-fit-for-all-ireland-final/

Now we know the reason for the retake!

Anyone else think the lights in Croke Park are not as bright as they should be?

100% on the button, Pressrun.

There's too many easy narratives. There are also a lot of folk who don't seem to watch games or see what goes on, but take their opinions from what the read in the papers or the like.

It will be interesting to see how the narrative shifts over the next few weeks for some counties.

Brilliant news. He will offer so much power going forward. Be some battle with SOS provide Kerry get the win

Aido has been brilliant in plenty of big games. But in a few against Dublin has not done well. But he has to play against Kerry. He can break up play like no other when he's on form.

That game was the biggest rollercoaster I think I've ever been on. If we can just get our pressing and running game going in the first half then we're sorted for the final.

Probably a bit of a long shot asking this, but does anyone know if there's anywhere that you could buy the 2017 home jersey, preferably brand new? My own one is getting fairly worn, and always really liked that particular design. Also, are the half zip tops that the squad wear, only made available to them to wear? Don't see them on oneills or elverys online. Thanks if anyone can help, and up Mayo!

Agreed, for me he is also a starter. his game is so much more than kicking points, and thats okay. There is a job there for him. Hel be put man marking David Moran or Tommy Walsh, sacrificing our slowest player for their game makers is not a bad prospect

They were on sale in Elverys Castlebar on Monday, right beside the new jerseys.

Perhaps. He does have attributes but his weaknesses can be exploited - Dublin have done so effectively by concentrating on his lack of pace. It's not entirely fair to criticise the chap for being exposed for pace when he's not Linford Christie himself.

Will be interesting to see how David Clifford does vs Tyrone as he's been misfiring a bit vs Cork the last 2 games, and as mentioned elsewhere seems to have fallen from Best on the Planet to second in his own house.

I'm not for a second comparing Aido to Clifford in terms of Footballing ability, David Clifford is an absolutely outstanding footballer, but is it not a bit similar in terms of how the expectations that have been created?.

Excellent point re Clifford, didn't do much in the two all Ireland's versus Dublin either but gets a free pass.

Suppose the narrative can only be dispelled one way and that's by landing the big prize.

I always think back to Dublin and the 1995 win, jayo mania and poor dessie Farrell carrying that team to an all Ireland with little fanfare, just shows how a bit of good publicity frames the memory

Actually the more I see and hear from Oisin McConville the more I like him.

There are a fair few ex footballers now commentators or pundits who seem to have a dissordinate amount of almost hatred for certain Mayo players.

😏

Remember we have had an ex Meath player complain that Mayo players including AOS were egotistical simply because they talked to and spend some time with the fans, especially the kids.

FFS these would complain if the players ignored the fans and when they don't they complain anyway.

You have a couple of ex Dublin players, who have been involved in recent enough Dublin management teams, come out and whinge whether the Dubs win or lose.

And in the case of one it is totally unwarranted criticism of a highly personal nature.

And the fact he is given column inches in a non Dublin based paper is rather surprising.

Yes AOS is not the fastest player out there, is not a brilliant old fashioned full forward belting over collosal points on either foot and he has sometimes made wrong decisions like taking the ball into contact when he shouldn't have.

And yes he has not had huge influence on games against Dublin.

He has added hugely to Mayo over the years and like the other older lads deserves colosal respect for continously going back to the well year after year pushing to lift the holy grail.

And if he is so shyte as some of these so called experts claim then why do the Dubs foul him so much and put another player in front of him to collect breaking ball?

And I also think down through the years, maybe because of his size, he never gets the amount of protection from referees that other players get.

I think someone put it brilliantly a few days ago by saying that Aidan is a lightning rod for attention. A lightning rod doesn't go out looking for it but because it's so tall (and a few other things), it gets it.

I was chatting about the match a few days ago to someone who I would consider a huge fan and a well-balanced, well educated one. Aidan's poor game came up and the fact that he was out doing interviews before the game didn't help... his head can't be right if he's doing interviews in the lead up to a game...!!!

I hadn't read the interview but my first reaction/question was when was the interview was done? That was met with an "I don't know"..... I'm fairly sure it wasn't in the last week was my response and I told my friend that he should be a bit wiser to the media and the fact that "Aido sells" for them.

I never even went to check the article until reading recent comments reminded me about it. Here's the article, it wasn't even an interview, he was just questioned after the Galway win! It clearly states it was from weeks ago, but of course, it was held back until the day of the game. Some people would want to wise up.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/interview-im-not-going-to-be-everybodys-cup-of-teaaidan-oshea-on-dealing-with-abuse-and-mayos-new-era-40750322.html