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The GAA Show

'When I seen him going back, I was thinking 'Jaysus, this is a big call now''

David Brady joined us for The42 GAA Show today.

FORMER MAYO MIDFIELDER David Brady says Mayo’s tactic of deploying Aidan O’Shea to man mark Kerry full-forward Kieran Donaghy during yesterday’s All-Ireland semi-final was a good call because it served its purpose.

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All the build-up to the last four clash at Croke Park revolved around the way Mayo would go about combating the aerial threat Donaghy poses on the edge of the square, and Brady first raised the idea of O’Shea dropping back into defence on Off The Ball last week.

And Mayo manager Stephen Rochford did just that, handing O’Shea the task of marshalling Donaghy and limiting the impact he could make on the game which eventually finished 2-14 apiece.

Speaking on The42‘s GAA show this afternoon, Brady said it was a big call but he would have done the same.

“In the build up to the game a lot of people questioned my sanity. When I seen him going back, I was thinking ‘Jaysus, this is a big call now’,” he said.

“I can make it from the comfort of my couch or when you’re on the phone to the boys in the studio but for a management, I think it was, you can call it an absolutely outrageous call, but you can call it a good call and it served it’s purposes for a period as there was no aerial bombardment.

Kieran Donaghy and Aidan O’Shea Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“But what transpired after the 70 minutes, I was dumbfounded at that. I can’t go against the management for doing it as if I was there I probably would have done the same thing.”

Brady went on to say that Rochford now has a few options to consider over this week, including the possibility of Lee Keegan occupying that same role in Saturday’s replay at GAA HQ.

As well as the Donaghy-O’Shea match-up, one of the other talking points from Sunday’s thrilling draw was the decision of Rochford to withdraw goalscorer Colm Boyle, who has been regularly called ashore in the second half of championship games this summer.

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The wing-back was outstanding in defence and attack and when asked whether he would have taken Boyle off, Brady was firm in his response: “No, not next, nigh or near it.

“I thought he was making telling contributions yesterday and he also kept a half forward line from Kerry absolutely non-existent to a degree. I wouldn’t have taken him off.”

You can watch the full show below:

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Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:

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