September 10, 2016

O’Shea impressed with Bombers’ grit in gutsy Banjo Bowl win

WINNIPEG — These days, you’d be hard-pressed to spot Mike O’Shea without a smile beaming across his face.

That trend continued on Saturday after seeing his team fight tooth-and-nail for its sixth-straight win, a 17-10 disposal of the Saskatchewan Roughrriders to complete a Labour Day-Banjo Bowl sweep.

“I’m proud of our team and the way they fought,” said O’Shea shortly after Saturday’s affair at Investors Group Field.

“It wasn’t a clean game by any means, but I’m proud of the way they battled right down to the end and I don’t know if the fans on both sides could ask for anything more,” he added.

But if there was one aspect of Winnipeg’s seventh win of the season that would cause O’Shea’s smile to turn slightly, it was the sight of tailback Andrew Harris and receiver Ryan Smith, who were both forced out of action early due to injury.

Harris had to exit with a lower-body ailment, while Smith hit the showers early with some upper-body damage.

Despite the influx of bodies in Winnipeg’s infirmary, O’Shea remains confident in his team’s ability to keep the good times rolling.

“The coaching staff does an unbelievable job of making sure these guys are prepared. The players themselves, right from the first day of training camp understand their roles, and they accept their roles, and they thrive in them,” he said.

“So when they get that opportunity, they’re going to try and make a great play for their teammates.”