FORMER Mayo midfielder Seamus O’Shea admits he doesn’t understand the “obsession” with his brother Aidan and the level of scrutiny he comes under for his performances in the green and red jersey.
Despite Mayo’s epic All-Ireland semi-final victory over reigning champions Dublin, some of the focus still shifted on to a below-par performance from the Breaffy man, and the fact James Horan’s side grabbed the game by the throat after he was withdrawn in the second half.
That has led to speculation over whether the Mayo captain will even make the starting 15 against Tyrone on September 11, leaving the older O’Shea brother – who hung up his inter-county boots last year – wondering why Aidan is so often the talking point.
“It's not something I've spoken to him about. It's probably a source of frustration for me, to be honest, because I feel like regardless of what happens in a game, Aidan seems to be the headline for some reason.
“I don't know is it because it gets more clicks or does it generate more headlines or something like that. I can't think of any other footballer where the conversation after every game is 'where did Aidan play? How did he play? What will they do with him the next day?'
“There's obviously loads of brilliant footballers around the country that will have good days and bad days. Or that will play in different positions, and it's just not the same source of conversation anywhere else.
“I struggle to understand why there's this obsession with how he plays or where he plays every day we go out.”
Yet while it might leave Seamus frustrated, he believes his sibling is well used to being the focus of attention, and expects the 31-year-old to bounce back in the All-Ireland final.
“Look, from Aidan's point of view, he got taken off, he didn't have a great game - that happens to everybody. You just have to accept that and move on.
“Aidan will be fine. I don't think it's happened to him before where he just hasn't had a good game and got taken off. You just have to take it on the chin.
“In a weird way, it's not a nice thing to happen, but it kind of focuses the mind a little bit and gives you a bit of motivation for the next day out. Look, he'll be grand. I'm not worried about him.
“He'll need to have a big performance the next day and Mayo will need him to have a big performance as well.”
