Mayo footballer Aidan O'Shea says he's "happy" to be back playing basketball after a seven-year absence as he joins the Sligo All-Stars.
The 26-year-old previously togged out for St Declan’s basketball club in Dublin until 2009 and also played schools basketball in Castlebar.
"I haven’t played since my first year in college, but I’m looking forward to training," he said today in a statement.
"I asked the coach Shane [O’Meara] about joining the team last year and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. This winter is probably one of the first times I’ve a couple of months to myself, and I’ve time now to be able to train with them."
With no club football or International Rules Series this winter for O'Shea, he admits that he only was looking to train with team.
"I always played basketball as a young fella and I was mad into it," he told Ocean FM. "I probably played up until I was 18 when I left school and I played a small bit in Dublin when I went to college.
"I haven't really played since obviously because football has kind of taken over. I met Shane in Sligo last year just by chance and he was obviously telling me about Sligo All-Stars.
"As the summer wore on this year, I knew there was going to be no International Rules and the club was over as well. Over the weekend I got a bit bored.
"It was the first weekend I had off all year and I had a thought. I said I'd message him and see if I could just come along and train to be honest. I came with zero expectations. I enjoy playing basketball and I'm grateful for Shane for letting me to go train."
He follows in the footsteps of former Mayo footballer Liam McHale who also togged out for the All-Stars and makes a similar move to that of Kieran Donaghy who played for Tralee sides St Brendan's and Tralee Tigers.
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