Dear David Brady,
We apologise profusely.
Yours sincerely,
Ireland.
The former Mayo midfielder recommended that it should be Aidan O'Shea who should be giving the job of man-marking one-man wrecking-ball, Kieran Donaghy.
Brady told Off The Ball that O'Shea's marking Donaghy would signal Mayo fighting fire with fire.
If Mayo win the game and Aidan O'Shea marked Donaghy, would they have any complaints? No.
In every single game we've lost against them, Kieran Donaghy has caused Mayo untold damage because we haven't fought fire with fire.
This was widely derided and discarded at the time, but it turned out that Brady was a prophet in the land of doubters.
O'Shea has been picking up Donaghy in the first-half of today's game, to mixed success. In the realm of the high-ball, O'Shea has competed very well, but in more conventional defensive situations he has struggled: he bought half a Donaghy dummy to give Kerry space to rifle home their first goal.
O'Shea didn't cover himself in glory on that Kerry goal:
Stephen O'Brien goals for @kerry_official as Kieran Donaghy eludes Aidan O'Shea. See the highlights tonight at 9.30pm on the #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/bpmHAi94iv
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 20, 2017
Here's been the general reaction to yet another bold selection call by Stephen Rochford. Generally, the consensus is that it hasn't been worth the trade-off of what Mayo have lost further out the field:
Basketballers battle! Aidan O'Shea gets better of Kieran Donaghy in this instance. Fascinating battle #KerryvMayohttps://t.co/3k6wEAIj4H pic.twitter.com/Z9LKvodJH9
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 20, 2017
Donaghy has won most balls out in front. They need O'Shea out the field causing havoc & running hard at them.
— Anthony Moyles (@moylesiea) August 20, 2017
Apart from winning one ball Donaghy is giving Aidan O'Shea a bit of a run around!! #KerVMayo
— Tadhg Rohan (@tadhgrohan) August 20, 2017
Silly move by Rochford I think to put O'Shea on donaghy. Shows lack of faith in defenders #KerryvMayo
— Wayne McNamara (@waggymc) August 20, 2017
Every high ball between O'Shea and Donaghy will be 50-50. But Donaghy is selling him on every dummy going when he wins ball #GAA #KerryvMayo
— Frɑncesco Creɑvani (@FCr_91) August 20, 2017
Can understand wanting O'Shea at full back to mark Donaghy but surely it completely negates his influence further out the pitch #KerryvMayo
— Michael O'Neill (@mikeycoyb) August 20, 2017
There's your reason for putting O'Shea on Donaghy... not sure if it's a worthwhile trade-off though #KerryvMayo
— Adam Maguire (@AdamMaguire) August 20, 2017
Been defending call to put Aidan O'Shea on Kieran Donaghy but he is struggling mobility-wise. Is fact in there putting Kerry off long ball?
— Daragh Ó Conchúir (@RebelDevil71) August 20, 2017
Mayo's hair brained selections gonna cost them again. O'Shea at fullback getting schooled by Donaghy #mayovkerry
— Denis O’Connell (@oconne11denis) August 20, 2017
Wonderful goal from Kerry. O'Shea left for dead by Donaghy, not for the first time either. #GAA #KerVMayo
— Frɑncesco Creɑvani (@FCr_91) August 20, 2017
