Mayo had just come to Tralee and beaten a decent Kerry side. Rumours of the 2017 demise had proved premature.
Andy Moran had just enjoyed one hell of a game. The Kerry defence tried to lay several hands on him, several times, but he was far too canny.
Following his 0-3 return, which proved crucial in a two-point win, Moran spoke with RTE and set the perfect tone for the year ahead. He commented:
“We really wanted to show today and we were very disappointing in the first half, if I’m being honest.
“This performance, is it going to be remember it in September? No. But it’s a good starting point for us.”
Moran followed it up with a comment that few in Mayo would have expected but all would very much welcomed. He continued:
“We’ve a good few players coming back for us – the likes of Aidan and these trained with us during the week – so hopefully we can push on.”
Aidan O’Shea – the Mayo midfielder-cum-midfielder-cum-forward – is already back in training. This comes less than two weeks after he was pictured in a protective boot supporting his basketball teammates at the Presidents Cup Final in Tallaght.
The fact that O’Shea has already been back training with the senior panel suggests he will be fit to take on Roscommon when they visit MacHale Park on Sunday week [February 25].
Where to play him against the Rossies remains the burning issue and one that was discussed on The GAA Hour Football Show.
Former Armagh star Stevie McDonnell believes O’Shea should be full forward while SportsJOE GAA editor Colm Parkinson thinks midfield is his natural position. Both agreed that O’Shea needs to be given a position and should not be shunted around the park. McDonnell said:
“I would have Aidan O’Shea in there as a targetman. Out him in at full forward. We can see the threat he posed in there a couple of years ago. He may have got crowded out [against Dublin] but he is still a massive force and has such strength. If 10 balls go in there, you expect something to come off seven of them.
“He makes things happen and he has so much physical strength that he can steam-roll through opponents sometimes. I think they would create and generate more goal opportunities and you could have Cillian O’Connor coming inside and getting the ball off him.”
The performances of Moran and Kevin McLoughlin for Mayo, at the weekend, may well tempt Stephen Rochford to go with that O’Shea full forward plan.
It will be interesting to see where he lines out this year.
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