Meeting John O'Shea was surreal for Baggies namesake Dara

West Bromwich Albion's Dara O'Shea: 'John (O'Shea) is doing great things as a coach but overall, he’s just a good guy. If any of us can do what he did in the game, we’ll be very lucky'. Picture: Rui Vieira

A defender named O’Shea blazed a trail for Irish football in the past 20 years, now another is content with the pressure of carrying on the mantle associated with the surname.

As a Manchester United fan in his youth, it was easy for Dara O’Shea to pick the player’s name he wanted on the back of his shirt.