While the rugby fraternity understandably fret over the issue of concussion once more following Jonathan Sexton’s incident at the Ricoh Arena, Mayo’s two-time All-Star Aidan O’Shea is appreciative of how efficient the GAA have been in dealing with this area of concern.

O’Shea is a class act. And it’s obvious from speaking to him that he’s as level-headed a skin off the pitch as he is exceptional on it.

However, he is a class act that has taken and dished out his fair share of punishment on-field himself, albeit in a different code to that of Sexton.

Gaelic football and rugby are worlds apart in terms of the potential severity of the impact inflicted in the hits that are part-and-parcel of the respective sports.

However, the former code has never been for the faint-hearted either and the power of the players nowadays in Gaelic football is more emphatic than it has ever been.

Yet, O’Shea is content that the hierarchy at Croke Park and the GPA are on top of issues such as concussion at present.

“There’s obviously a big difference between the GAA and rugby,” O’Shea mused. “Rugby is much more of a contact sport in which there are collisions in nearly every play of the game.

“In our own game there’s plenty of physicality. But thankfully the head-on collisions that occur in rugby are few and far between in our game.

“Of course, there are a few instances of these things happening in the GAA each year but I feel the way the GAA and GPA have dealt with things such as concussion is really, really strong.

“The protocols that the GAA have in place are excellent and so I don’t think there is an issue really in relation to concussion in the GAA.

“Certainly, from our point of view things are positive in that regard.”

O’Shea foresees Cork as extremely dangerous opponents to Mayo on Sunday in the Allianz NFL Division One, primarily due to the attacking sharpness of Daniel Goulding and Brian Hurley.

The Rebels host Stephen Rochford’s men at Páirc Uí Rinn and the westerners’ chief talisman is acutely mindful of how much angst players such as Goulding and Hurley may cause the visitors.

The Éire Óg clubman provided Peadar Healy’s offence with a distinct scoring threat in the successful McGrath Cup raid and Goulding’s revitalised form has not gone unnoticed by O’Shea.

“Daniel’s probably had a couple of frustrating years from being a man leading Cork to an All-Ireland title a few seasons ago,” O’Shea explained, speaking at the announcement of his involvement in AIB’s ‘The Toughest Trade’ documentary yesterday. “He looks as if he has come back really sharp this year and will present us with a major challenge on Sunday.

“Daniel’s a top-class player and one we will have to watch.

“Cork are not relying on Daniel at the moment though, especially with the likes of (Brian) Hurley inside too.

“Cork are a very, very strong team with a new manager, like ourselves, and probably feel like they have a bit to prove this year.

“That makes them extremely dangerous opponents for us.”

O’Shea stated recently that the controversy surrounding the departures of Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly from the Mayo managerial ticket was a ‘draining’ experience.

However, the Breaffy clubman is now entirely focused on the enticing prospects that lie along Mayo’s path in 2016 highlighting that the buzz is back in and around their camp in advance of the league.

“There’s definitely been a bit of excitement around the place again and that buzz for wanting to get back out on the field that goes with it since we’ve been back a month or so.

“There is a lot of injuries there at the moment which might be the toll of a couple of hard years but there’s a lot of the younger lads in hoping to prove themselves so games like Sunday’s against Cork represents an opportunity for them to do so.

“We’re looking forward to the match and trying to get two points on the board,” he stressed.

O’Shea, though, agreed that attempting to predict an outcome to Sunday’s clash would be a fool’s errand such are the variables associated with contests of this nature.

“Cork, traditionally, alongside Dublin in the last few years, have dominated the league.

“And we’ve found it difficult down there at times against Cork.

“This time of the year though games are notoriously difficult to call with lads playing Sigerson (Cup), others injured and new managers in charge.

“Given that we’ve only really had a month or so together I would think Stephen (Rochford) and the lads would be looking for a performance first and foremost,” he said.

O’Shea will be swapping the code for a tilt at American Football next week, therefore taking on the opportunity of testing himself in unfamiliar surroundings.

It is not yet known which team exactly he will be joining up with for ‘The Toughest Trade’ however, he appreciates it could be an eye-opening experience against such physically imposing and powerful athletes.

“I’m going there with a totally open mind. I don’t even know what I’m going to be doing. There’ll definitely be something I’ll take out of it.

“Might be things like snippets of preparation and recovery advice that could be of use to me, you’re always looking to learn as much as you can from these experiences.

“But, yeah, these guys are freaks of nature so we’ll see when I get over there,” he added.