VIDEO: Stephen Rochford explains why Lee Keegan played on after sickening clash of heads

Mayo's loss to Cork this afternoon should not have been a major surprise for any GAA followers of football at this time of year.

The opening day is often a sticky one for teams, and especially for Mayo who lined out without some key frontline players this afternoon such as Cillian O'Connor and Keith Higgins. Losing to Cork is no disgrace, but the 'D' word was used about an incident in the second half of the 1-18 to 0-12 loss that saw Lee Keegan left on the field after a sickening clash of heads with Eoin Cadogan, that left the Mayo captain for the day clearly shaken, and perhaps even concussed. After the game Rochford was asked why Keegan, who did not look capable of playing on, was left on the field for a number of minutes until he was eventually substituted. Speaking to Newstalk's Off the Ball, Rochford played  explained the Mayo approach to the incident.

"The medical team were communicating with him. He was captaining the team. Sometimes you say do you mind the player from himself. He was responsive in that he was communicating with the doctor. Once we were able to clearly notice that he wasn't himself, he was pulled."

We're not sure so many people will be too happy with that explanation with fans many at the time stunned that the wing-back was left on the pitch. Rochford admitted the Mayo medical team will be reviewing the incident, but is hopeful the concussion is not too serious.

"I haven't spoken yet with [the doctor] but he was referring that he was fine. But then quite clearly our own video analysis team and our own doc could notice it straight away. As quickly as we could get him out of the field then, we could. He was communicating at the end of the game and hopefully if there is a concussion aspect, then it's something minor."

https://twitter.com/mossycurr/status/693818074999472129 https://twitter.com/KCsixtyseven/status/693815806153658368 https://twitter.com/cairindebrun/status/693816736806748160 https://twitter.com/Ocean_handrail/status/693818237235109890 Mayo GAA have since issued a statement admitted Keegan should've been brought off a little earlier: "In today’s Allianz NFL Division 1 clash with Cork in Páirc Ui Rinn, Mayo player Lee Keegan was substituted with concussion symptoms.  "The Mayo medical team accept that Lee should have been withdrawn as a precaution a number of minutes earlier when the collision occurred.  "Player welfare is of paramount importance to all involved with Mayo GAA and members of the Mayo medical team have been to the forefront of player welfare initiatives in the GAA nationally. "Lee is recovering and will continue to be monitored over the coming days. As always, Mayo will follow the established Return to play protocols."