"You have to just stay mentally ready for that kind of swing in a game"

February 25, 2025

Mayo's Aidan O'Shea reaches out for possession against Armagh ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Mayo star Aidan O’Shea believes teams have to have a totally different mindset now when behind by a large margin in games.

The Westerners trailed Armagh by 1-10 to 0-5 at half-time at the Box-It Athletic Grounds before clawing it back with the help of Davitt Neary’s superb goal and points from O’Shea and Ryan O’Donoghue saw them eventually lead by two points late on before the got the last two scores to salvage a 1-17 to 1-17 draw.

It was one of several comebacks across the Allianz Football League at the weekend, and speaking to media after the draw in Armagh, O’Shea said that the new rules, particularly the two-pointer from outside the arc, gives teams which look dead and buried fresh momentum.

“We knew it wasn’t dead and buried (at half-time). We left ourselves with a lot of work to do and we did a lot of it,” the Breaffy clubman is quoted saying by BelfastLive.co.uk.

“I think mentally, you have to have a totally different mindset and realise that games can change very, very quickly. We got two two-pointers there so that swings a game very quickly and they’d a couple of wides, similar to us in the first half, and, all of a sudden, we got a bit of momentum.

“I think you have to just stay mentally ready for that kind of swing in a game and take advantage of it when it comes.

“You can see both teams are still getting used to some of the rules. Referees are still getting used to some of the rules, and then there’s talk they’re going to get changed again after next weekend’s games.

“Look, it is a bit up and down, obviously you want it to be solid and ready for the Championship, it is a bit of a challenge.”


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