Former Dublin and Mayo stars Paul Clarke and Conor Mortimer weigh into the team selection debate.
Jim Gavin did not show his selection cards until 12pm on Saturday and, when he did, Diarmuid Connolly was one of Dublin’s main stars to miss out.
Con O’Callaghan, Paul Mannion and Niall Scully were all named in the forwards while the likes of Connolly, Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan were included on the bench.
Niall Scully named at No.12… but will he start? https://t.co/T8wXjP3ek8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 16, 2017
While we must both Gavin and Mayo boss Stephen Rochford for their word – that the two starting line-ups will take to the field, as is, just after 3:20pm – that has not stopped speculation that there may be a tweak or two yet.
Mayo are unlikely to be changed from the 15 that started against Kerry in the semis, although many have suggested Paddy Durcan could yet feature from the throw-in.
Few, though, can confidently claim Dublin will line out as advertised [positionally and in terms of personnel].
Clarke and Mortimer addressed the make-up of the Dublin team, respectively, on The GAA Hour Live and SportsJOE Live this week. The former Dubs defender has an interesting theory on why Connolly did not get more game time against Tyrone while Mortimer has heard some positive vibes about Flynn.
Starting with Clarke, on Friday night [before either county named a team] he said:
“To bring Connolly on when he did, with a couple of minutes to go, people thought that was it was silly and farcical. But, with hindsight, you look and it and think he’s did that and it is out of the way. He’s come on in a game and that whole stuff is done and dusted.”
Clarke added, “I’m starting to think that Gavin may start him. He may not name him in the programme and he may start him… but if Diarmuid doesn’t start and a Dublin forward gets a black card, who’s the first guy you bring on?”
To Clarke’s mind, that man would be Connolly. He will either start or we will see him early enough in the piece.
Mortimer believes the one change Gavin could make would involve Flynn. The former Mayo forward commented:
“I think Flynn might start, to be honest. He has a good chance. I’ve heard that over the last couple of weeks. He is obviously going well and the one thing about Jim Gavin is he tends to go with the lads that are going well.
“Lookit, you saw it last year with Cormac Costello. He hardly touched leather for most of last year and then he comes on in the All-Ireland final and wins the game for Dublin. If you’re showing well, Gavin will give you a chance.”
Mortimer moved up to Dublin in 2012 and played club football with Parnells. He has plenty of good connections in the GAA world so talk of Flynn tearing it up in training and ‘A’ vs. ‘B’ matches may well have reached his ears.
We’ll know soon enough but, whatever the calls, Dublin will have a mighty starting 15 and one hell of a bench.
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