Shane Nally didn’t come crawling out from under a rock very suddenly.
This boy is quality. He was part of the 2008 Mayo minor team that won Connacht and shook Tyrone and he captained St. Colman’s back in his day too but he’s had to wait for his big chance with the county. But he did wait.
They were bloody talking about him on the HoganStand forum back in 2009 back when forums were still a thing. People were asking if he was the future of Mayo football but it wasn’t until this year that Shane Nally got to show the country his talent.
When the opportunity finally came, it looked like he was doing everything right. He’s a classy football player, composed and measured, and he was working his way nicely into Stephen Rochford’s plans throughout the Division One campaign.
Of Mayo’s seven games in the top flight this season, Nally featured in six of them. He started the last two, helping the side to two vital wins to assure their safety.
Shane Nally NFL minutes:
Monaghan (h) – 0
Kerry (a) – 19
Roscommon (h) – 15
Dublin (a) – 21
Tyrone (a) – 65
Donegal (h) – 70
By the time the summer came though, he was out of favour for seemingly no clear reason.
His last appearances were in Omagh and MacHale Park against tough Ulster opposition when the pressure was on Mayo. He scored in both of them, they won both of them but, by contrast to the league, Mayo also have played seven games in the championship now and Nally has been involved in just one of them.
Shane Nally championship minutes:
Sligo – 0
Galway – 0
Derry – 0
Clare – 0
Cork – 0
Roscommon – 0
Roscommon – 4
It wasn’t until the 66th minute in Croke Park when Roscommon had long since been pronounced dead and had their burial for themselves that Shane Nally was eventually called from the bench.
He had watched eight different players get selected from the subs to come on against Cork. He wasn’t one of them.
He watched seven men get the nod ahead of him to come on against Derry. He wasn’t one of them.
He had to wait for a right, royal spanking of the Rossies to get his chance and, on the bank holiday Monday over four months after he played 74 minutes against Donegal in the last league game, the Garrymore man was finally recalled. He was sent on with four minutes of normal time remaining and, by Jesus, he made every one of them count.
He got on ball, he drove up the pitch, he sprayed the thing around and he split the headquarters posts twice with all the precious little time he was given.
And didn’t the Mayo fans love it. Especially those who wanted to see more of him all along.
https://twitter.com/TurnipMurphy/status/894568185684512768
I'm 3 months preaching about Shane Nally. He comes on and scores two beauts
— Richie Heneghan (@RichieHeneghan) August 7, 2017
Bit of class about Shane Nally
— John Carey (@Johnny_C51) August 7, 2017
Lots of praise for Aido this evening but I thought Seamie & Tom P were both outstanding. Ruled midfield. Also Shane Nally's points! #MayoGAA
— Alan Flatley (@alflats11) August 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/arkiema/status/894673773898629125
Shane Nally of @Garrymoregaa showing his talent again by scoring 2 points in his Croker debut.Needs to feature again! #mayogaa #GAA 👏💚❤💪
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) August 7, 2017
Beggars belief how coen and drake have seen more airtime than Shane nally in last three games #talent #mayogaa
— Donal Healy (@donalhealy1) August 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/EndaMcGearty/status/894572949516300288
Shane Nally on the pitch – at long, long, long last. Great to see the @Garrymoregaa man back on the sacred sod. #MAYOvRos
— Michael Gallagher (@MichaelGallMO) August 7, 2017
Class is a rare thing in this world. It shouldn’t be disbanded so quickly.
