Tomás Ó Sé has hailed Aidan O'Shea for his all-action performance in Mayo's draw with Dublin on Sunday.
In what was his 90th championship appearance for his county - a record for an outfielder - O'Shea was 'outstanding' and a 'nuisance' that Dublin 'struggled with' according to the Kerryman.
Mayo looked destined for a famous win when the brilliant Ryan O'Donoghue put them one up with thirty seconds of injury time remaining, only for Dublin to deny them sensationally at the death.
With a last-gasp point, Cormac Costello sealed the draw which secures a direct route to the quarter final for Dublin as table-toppers, while Mayo will face Derry in a preliminary quarter final as we learned on Monday morning.
READ MORE: Mayo Will Surely Take Inspiration From Defiant Kevin McStay Interview After Dublin Draw
But despite the disappointment, the general consensus from the likes of Ciaran Whelan and Lee Keegan was that Mayo could take 'huge positives' from their display. For Ó Sé, the biggest positive in all of this was O'Shea.
"I didn't think Mayo would win today," Ó Sé said on The Sunday Game.
"I would always historically question their forward line but they answered a lot of questions today. It's still early in the championship but it's as good as I've seen them play in a while," he added.
"You'd have to take your hat off to Aidan O'Shea as well.
Mayo "answered an awful lot of questions" with their performance against Dublin and Tómas Ó Sé believes that's the best we've seen from them this year. #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/6dZylC5qbP
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 16, 2024
"Ninety times togging out for Mayo and the abuse he gets, I thought he was outstanding today, he set up players, he was on the ball, he was a nuisance to Dublin."
The legendary wing back feels however that Mayo could still get more out of O'Shea, by giving him longer and quicker ball.
"Dublin struggled with him," he continued.
16 June 2024; Matthew Ruane of Mayo celebrates a second half point during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Dublin and Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
"I'd love to see him getting long ball quicker, and Mayo kicking the ball more often. I think it would suit the inside men they have."
On the flip, Ó Sé feels that Dublin's forwards haven't yet clicked but he has no doubt they will figure it out.
"I haven't seen the Dublin forward line, Con especially, they haven't clicked fully this year."
"I don't know what it is, getting the balance right, the mix right, the players right, the shape right. They certainly would be more comfortable in Croke Park, but they haven't clicked as a unit yet.
"I've no doubt that they will, there's no better team to do their homework right and come out stronger but to date I haven't seen them click like they normally do."
