Leave some time for recovery, big fella.
Year on year, without fail, the issue of overloading amateur players and the risk of burnout are issues that stalk the GAA every pre-season.
However Mayo’s All-Star full-forward Aidan O’Shea is having none of it, claiming he would train twice a day, every day, if it meant ending the county’s 65-year wait for an All-Ireland.
Just 25, O’Shea has been on the senior intercounty treadmill since 2009, but his appetite has not waned in the slightest.
Former Corofin manager Stephen Rochford has taken the reins in Mayo and O’Shea is ready to do whatever it takes to get the five-in-a-row Connacht champions over the line.
“To be honest, if Stephen asked me to train seven nights of the week and he persuaded me that this was the right thing to do to win an All-Ireland, I’d train seven nights of the week and seven mornings of the week.
“It doesn’t make a difference. Boys are desperate to win and I know people are saying the enjoyment is gone out of it, but enjoyment is winning games and being successful. If a manager tells you this is what’s right, you’ll do it.”
Mayo’s league campaign gets underway this Sunday as they face cork on Leeside. The versatile Breaffy man is hopeful he will be utilised in the forwards before he jets off to the United States for the next series of ‘The Toughest Trade’, where he will try his hand at American football.
“We’ll see but hopefully he doesn’t play me out around the middle too so, it’s early yet.
“I don’t mind where he plays me, obviously last year went well, I don’t mind if I play 11 or midfield, I’m comfortably in both of them so yeah wherever he thinks is fitting for the day, I’m sure we’ll work on it.”
