‘ANDY’S A BIG LOSS, BUT WE’VE HAD TIME TO ADJUST’

SEAMUS O’SHEA claims that Mayo have had enough notice of Andy Moran’s absence for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final to cope with his loss. Captain Moran was carted off during their facile quarter-final win over Down after a season-ending cruciate ligament injury to his right knee. But midfielder O’Shea, back available for selection again after quad and groin injuries, says the four-week gap between games has allowed them to come up with alternative arrangements in attack. ‘He’s a big loss to us, there’s no doubt about it, but the main thing is that we’ve had plenty of notice of it,’ said O’Shea. ‘We’ve had a month to prepare for this game. It’s not as if it happened today or yesterday. We’ve a good panel there and hopefully players will be able to come in and do a job. It’s disappointing from Andy’s point of view and we are sickened for him but we have to crack on at this stage. I don’t think we should be getting motivated by the fact that he’s not there. ‘An All-Ireland semi-final is there to be won. If that’s not enough motivation to get you going then you are in the wrong place.’ O’Shea is currently occupied with his own personal bid to get back into the team. He has partnered younger brother Aidan at midfield in the past but his injury troubles have allowed Barry Moran to strike up a strong partnership with Aidan in recent times. ‘I feel good, I’m ready to go again,’ said Seamus. ‘Barry has been having a great season, a couple of man-of-the-match displays in the Connacht championship, just playing great football. ‘He was very good again against Down the last day I thought.’