Diarmuid Connolly – one of the best footballers of his generation has been left out of Dublin’s All-Ireland final team – and the reaction has been… well, muted.
Just before Saturday at noon, Jim Gavin confirmed the 15 Dublin players he intends to send out from the start against Mayo. Connolly was named included in the half or full forward lines.
Diarmuid Connolly. Not dropped but not selected. Named on the bench, just like he was for the semi final.
As of posting this story [at 4pm], this was the reaction to Connolly missing out:
https://twitter.com/dnlyng/status/909035288600743936
Not even a ‘?!’, just a straight up ‘?’. A casual query.
One can only imagine if the St Vincent’s forward was benched for the 2016 final or replay. The reams of paper and online space that would have been filled with reaction, outrage, agreement, vitriol and everything in between.
We don’t even have to go back that far. Imagine if someone told you that Connolly would be free to play and fully fit but would have to watch the opening stages of the 2017 All-Ireland final from the sidelines.
You would wonder what was going on in this world and if Donald Trump’s Twitter account have anything to do with it.
Instead, Dublin go into the final against familiar foes Mayo as heavily backed favourites. Many bookies have put them as winners with three points to spare. Former Dubs forward Ray Cosgrove told The GAA Hour Live that backing Jim Gavin’s men was as good as printing money. Martin McHugh predicted Dublin by eight points on Friday evening.
The idea of Connolly starting in reserve was discussed during the week – of course it was – but few were tub-thumping either way.
Word filtered out, around Monday and Tuesday, that Connolly would not be starting. By Wednesday, Colm Parkinson was giving his take on matters. He declared:
“If Diarmuid Connolly – arguably the best forward in the country – doesn’t start an All-Ireland final against a brilliant team like Mayo, who Dublin can barely get over with their best team… that is arrogance of the highest order.”
Okay, may a tub or two was thumped.
But the decision has been made and the world has kept turning. The reason for this entirely understandable.
Dublin played their best game in two years when, late last month, they dismantled a very good and well-drilled Tyrone side at Croke Park. Con O’Callaghan was fantastic that day. Dean Rock kept the scores coming and both Paul Mannion and Paddy Andrews kept out wide, stretched Tyrone and were threatening throughout. Ciarán Kilkenny was unflappable and Niall Scully accounted himself very well for 50 minutes – helping to shackle Peter Harte.
Kevin McManamon and Eoghan O’Gara got onto the pitch, and wreaked havoc, before Connolly was even sent to warm up. Large sections of Hill 16 then [mistakenly] cheered for Eric Lowndes when, as a sub, he entered the fray wearing No.12.
Connolly made his comeback from suspension when Tyrone were six feet under and the ground over them had been patted flat.
Dublin had won without him as they had won without him, and for him, against Kildare, Westmeath and Monaghan. Connolly is on the bench and GAA fans are taking it as a given.
Of course, as some have pointed out on our Facebook page, one should assume nothing until the ball is thrown in at 3:30pm on Sunday. Connolly may be there from the start yet.
If he is, or if he is not, Dublin will back themselves and their fans’ belief will not waiver. The champions have come a long way in a short time and that, in itself, is a scary prospect.
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