Aidan O’Shea hits back at commentators’ weight claim comments

'It’s quite disrespectful for someone who’s done what I done'

The Mayo football star recently opened up on comments he has received from commentators about his weight during inter-county games - which vary depending on whether his side have won or lost.

Speaking on the GAA Social Podcast, O'Shea aired his frustrations when hearing commentators making observations about his weight.

"Some of the criticism over the years has been really annoying around it. Aidan might play a bad game, that’s fine, and they might say 'he is carrying a few pounds' right, and then Aidan plays a good game six weeks later, it's 'Jesus, he’s really trimmed down'," the two-time National Football League champion said.

"That terminology by commentators is, first of all, completely and utterly wrong. Like second of all, I’ve been exactly the same weight, the same. It has always been the cause.

"Oh, 'Aidan played well because he stepped away from the table' or 'he went running for three weeks' and that stuff puts thoughts into people’s heads thinking that’s all Aidan’s about."

'It's what people label you about as well'

O'Shea admitted that the comments do get to him as by hearing these observations, others begin to form a similar judgement.

"That part can be hard, and that part can be annoying.

"I don’t mind if someone tells you Aidan had a bad game I just had a bad game that’s it that’s fine. Aidan didn’t have a good game because he didn’t have three biscuits last night," he added.

"You know this is the level of analysis it gets, and it's what people label you about as well. Oh, 'he carries weight'."

The 35-year-old has already confirmed that he plans to feature in the 2025 campaign.

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