His biggest test yet.
If there’s any man that symbolises the year that Dublin have had, then Con O’Callaghan is that man. He’s had it all too easy, he’s coasted through every game he’s played, with barely a finger being laid on him, much like the team in general.
He may be new on the scene, but that hasn’t bothered him, and the daring verve and abandon with which he has played has been a joy to watch.
It’s O’Callaghan’s first year as part of the Dublin senior panel, but he has taken taken to Championship action like a seasoned veteran.
He has never been flustered, never been really challenged, has he even been on the receiving end of an aggressive shoulder? It’s hard to remember such an incident.
It’d make you wonder, has it all been too easy for him? Or is he making it so easy for himself with his blatant disregard to the man marking him.
Is this man really a phenomenon?
O’Callaghan came up for discussion on Wednesday’s GAA Hour, and both Colm Parkinson and Steven McDonnell were in thorough agreement on the one man Mayo should set aside to mark him.
Colm Boyle is that man. Colm Boyle is a confrontational ball of fire, and his no prisoners taken approach will surely be the biggest challenge O’Callaghan will have faced all year.
“Colm Boyle is going to sew it into Con O’Callaghan and he’s going to go welcome to senior Championship football.
“He’s been having it too easy, he’s been kicking points, passing it over the bar under no pressure, and Dublin have been winning games at their ease. I think Niall Scully and Con O’Callaghan are going to get a serious wakening to Championship football,” added the Laois man.
“As Paul O’Connell says, ‘put the fear of God in him,’ and Colm Boyle will do that to him. I think Colm Boyle will absolutely blackguard Con O’Callaghan, and he’s going to hit him hard and Con O’Callaghan is going to get a welcome to Championship football, that I don’t think he’s gotten yet.
Steven McDonnell agreed with Parkinson, and feels that his stoic approach to the game will really test the youngster.
“I think Colm Boyle is the right man for Con O’Callaghan as well, because he is so tenacious in the tackle, he’s ferocious, he’s in your face, but he puts a player on the back-foot, too, because he drives forward as well,” said the Armagh man.
An acid test it will be.
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