I have a higher opinion of Cillian OāConnor than AOS. Heās a limited forward but heās not a coward or an egoist-bully in the same way that AOS is. COCās scoring statistics actually increase slightly against Kerry and Dublin than in the Connacht Championship believe it or not (or so the Mayo man who gave me the ticket today told me).
I dont think COC is a forward who would frighten any top team but I dont think heās ever cost Mayo a game in the same way that AOS has cost them lots.
There was moment early enough in the second half where AOS won a ball out in front around 30 yards for goal. His man over committed and he had a clear path to goal only to turn like a ferry and unable to generate any pace and was easily swallowed up by the covering defenders.
I never recall him looking that slow or laborious on the turn. He was subbed not too long after.
What was he doing coming onto the pitch after Hennelly levelled it? Had the full time whistle gone at that stage?
He tackling/turnovers is impressive.
Heās easily the greatest of all time.
It hadnt. He was acting the hard man like the self absorbed eejit he is
Cillian o connor is far from a bottler. Heās gotten even last bit out of himself and never ever shirked responsibility.
I wouldnāt rate him as a great player but Iād have massive respect for the man because with limited natural ability he has gotten so much out of himself.
Thereās plenty of inter county players who if they had the same dedication as Cillian theyād win so much more.
Iād love if Cillian OāConnor was from Monaghan, I thank God that Aidan OāShea is not.
Iād agree with that, to an extent.
But he hides away from the ball. With Conroy and OāDonoghue inside, Mayo carry such a bigger threat there as they are both so hungry for the ball.
Sort of sums up him and mayo up the way he nailed
A score to level an all Ireland final with no time up but missed two kicks to win a final with time up.
Itās generally accepted thereās more pressure when itās to level game but Iām not so sure.
Youād feel sorry for a lot of those mayo players not getting a medal.
He never missed a kick to win a final.
He inexplicably put one kick over the bar when he clearly needed to try and blast it towards the goal and hope against hope it would get a deflection and go in.
He missed one difficult kick to equalise a final, and he nailed a harder one.
He missed one difficult kick to lead a final with six minutes of injury time to come.
History doesnāt repeat itself but it rhymes.
Cillian is joining Thomas Davis. There will be a sizeable queue of Dublin club corner backs lining up to throw a slap at him.
He was principal in a North Mayo primary school. Has he changed profession? Seems strange taking a gap year at his age. Heāll be 34 by the time championship 2026 gets underway. Iād say his Mayo career is almost certainly finished.
He has gone down the recruitment route I think.
Seems to be a big thing with GAA players in recent years, big firms, particularly pharma or construction type recruitment agencies getting them on board.
Probably took a leave of absence - similar to Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin.
A quick google says he started a finance recruitment firm 5 years ago
I can understand it for fellas who are well thought of or come across as very sociable, but COāC wouldnāt fall into either category for most people Iād expect.
In contrast to many, Iād have loved to see Mayo fans and some of their great servants, even Aido, win an AI. But every time they came up short the disappointment was greatly reduced by knowing Cillian and to a lesser extent his brother were likely to finish without the biggest prize.
Iād say Cillian is well versed at getting the slaps in first
That county board meeting this week is going to be box office. No media allowed which is a sign that some serious finger-pointing is on the way.