The running man.
Donal Vaughan has to be one of the most instantly recognisable footballers in the game, with his chest confidently and constantly pumped like he’s just after performing a personal best bench press, and his head in the air like he doesn’t even care.
Mayo’s centre back struts around the field with pep in his step and an engine that simply never stops.
You will see this man cover almost every inch of the hallowed turf on Sunday, and his every touch of the ball will ignite the insatiable green and red.
Vaughan will pop up in the forwards after a typically lung-busting drive, and the backs with a powerful tackle or interception.
What you might also notice about Vaughan is the name he is known by in his county.
‘Shoes’ they will roar as the former cross country champion displays all this fitness on the football field.
The Mayo man owns a chain of shoe shops, ‘Vaughan shoes’ in his home county and from there originates the nickname.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXS5Bs-hHvN/?taken-by=vaughanshoes1
We thought he was so known because of his fleet-footed tendencies, or his flash choice of boots, but there you go.
Even the official Mayo GAA Twitter page knows him like so.
The Mayo faithful will be hopeful ‘Shoes’ pops up for a few more white flags in Croke Park.
#MayoGAA scorers today…
Andy 1-05
Cillian 0-04 1f
Boyler 1-00
Tom P 0-02
Paddy 0-01
Shoes 0-01
Doc 0-01— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) August 20, 2017
So if your beside a Mayo GAA fan at Croke spark who’s shouting ‘Go on shoes’ or ‘That’s it shoes,’ now you know why.
So, no, Kerry people, Don’t be surprised if they’re yelling shoes at Vaughan’s expected marker, Johnny Buckley on Sunday, or even Kieran Donaghy, because he could well be thrown back to mark the big man, as Conan Doherty remarked on The GAA Hour Show on Thursday.
“I would put Vaughan back as I think you need a defender, first and foremost, on Donaghy. It doesn’t matter about size but Vaughan is big so that helps,” said the Derry man.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNPJiv8BokS/?taken-by=vaughanshoes1
He’ll be hoping to show the Kerry lads a clean pair of heals in Croke Park.
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