There was always going to be doubts about Dublin’s ability to retain the All-Ireland.
The motivation needed, the crop of players, the ability to bounce back from defeat in the league final.
Yet, the biggest doubt of all perhaps was injury problems.
With Diarmuid Connolly suspended until a possible semi-final date the side are stretched thin enough as it is and that’s not inclusive of current injury blows.
And with Michael Darragh Macauley sidelined for the past few months it looked as if Dublin could have struggled come to the business end of the season.
The Ballyboden St.Enda’s player came off injured during his side’s defeat against Oliver Plunketts in the Dublin Senior Football Championship back in April and has been out ever since.
James McCarthy and Ciaran Kilkenny have filled the void in midfield in Macauley’s absence but Dublin fans will know for the side to fire on all cylinders they’d need their two star men playing in their best positions.
However, according to The Irish Examiner, the Dublin squad is injury free.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin was speaking ahead of the Leinster Final clash against Kildare and revealed that there is a clean bill of health in the Dublin camp.
That means that the side could also feature Cormac Costello in the forward line come Sunday.
The Whitehall Colmcille man announced himself to the GAA world when he came off the bench to score three points from play in last year’s All-Ireland Final and will be looking to cement a place in the starting team.
Other players that have got the green light to return are John Small, Paul Flynn and Philly McMahon are all expected to return.
