“The timing was wrong.”
Lee Keegan believes that Kevin McStay’s decision to substitute Aidan O’Shea during Mayo’s defeat to Dublin was a strange decision.
O’Shea was hooked off early in the second half after Dublin had scored a second goal and the game was at risk of getting away from Mayo.
The flying full forward’s run to the bench was met by a chorus of boos and and ironic cheers from jubilant Dublin fans in Croke Park.
In Keegan’s column with RTE, the former wing back explains why he thought McStay was wrong on this instance.
“Subbing Aidan O’Shea was a strange decision for me. Management will have had their reasons but the timing was wrong.
“The match was spiralling out of control for Mayo and Aidan is a hugely experienced and influential figure in the team. He had been effective in the first half as well, creating chances for Tommy Conroy and Ryan O’Donoghue.
“The answer, at that stage, when Mayo were buckling under the Dublin surge, was to bring Aidan out to the middle for a period of time, to get his hands on possession and settle things down.
“That’s leaving off the psychological impact of seeing Aidan leaving the pitch, the lift it gives the Dublin support on the Hill and whatnot.
“In reality, there was only going to be one outcome at that stage. Whether the final scoreline would read 2-17 to 0-11 is another thing.”
Dublin will now play Monaghan in the semi-final stages of the All-Ireland.
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- Why Pat Gilroy made Bernard Brogan play wing back as a “sacrificial lamb”
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- Michael Murphy on playing club football and the adjustments he had to make
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