Ipswich Town defender Dara O'Shea has revealed that the man-marking tactics in Gaelic football have played a significant role in shaping his approach to the Premier League.
O'Shea is part of an Irish revolution at Portman Road, alongside compatriots Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Jack Taylor, and manager Kieran McKenna.
The club adopts an aggressive, front-foot style of play in their first season back in the Premier League since the 1994/95 campaign.
Reflecting on his roots, O'Shea credits his personal playing style to his time as a Gaelic footballer for St. Jude's in Dublin.
“I love the battle most. My mentality as a player is that I just want to win my battle, and I don’t want to let them get one better than me. I’ve had it a lot in recent weeks where we’ve gone a bit man-to-man and stuff like that," O'Shea told The UK Independent.
“I think that is the Gaelic in me coming out; you have your man, you stick to him, and that’s that. A huge part of how I play is that front-foot mentality, wanting to get to the ball first, not being afraid to put your body there. It’s definitely helped me.”
output:Dara O'Shea of Ipswich Town (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)In another life, O'Shea might have been part of Dublin's six-in-a-row success in Gaelic football, but at 16, he chose to focus on soccer, joining West Bromwich Albion.
“I played right up to the end—the county final,” O'Shea said. “If something went wrong, it wouldn’t have been the wisest decision!”
Fermanagh native Kieran McKenna has become a cult hero at Ipswich, guiding the club back to the Premier League. He even attracted interest from bigger clubs last summer before committing his future to Ipswich with a new contract. Despite the team's inconsistent results, McKenna’s reputation continues to grow.
When asked about McKenna's qualities, O'Shea praised the manager’s tactical vision and exceptional man-management skills.
“It’s how he plays the game and sees the game. After working with various managers, I have an idea of how I think football should be played, and that’s how he plays football, so that’s what I enjoy. I think that’s important. To buy into a system yourself is massive," he explained.
“He’s probably one of the best managers I’ve had as a man-manager. I think he gets it. I’ve had managers before who just don’t speak to you, and it almost has you scratching your head. Because, as a footballer, you’re so lonely at times.”
Ipswich will face Arsenal in their next match on December 27.
