Craig Dias back in Dublin squad despite thinking 2020 stint was his “last hurrah”

"I thought that ship had sailed."

Craig Dias is back in the Dublin squad despite thinking that his stint with the team in 2020 was "his last hurrah" in a county jersey. The Kilmacud Crokes midfielder has been playing the best football of his life in recent years, playing an integral role in helping his club reach back to back All-Ireland finals, and winning it this season. The towering man mountain is now in his 30s but is clearly more athletic and explosive than ever, and despite a sporadic inter-county career, it looks like he's got another chance. Dias was named on the bench in Dublin's win against Clare last weekend, a situation he did not foresee himself as he thought that "the ship had sailed." The Crokes man was part of the Dublin panel that won he All-Ireland in 2011, although he was just a youngster, but was then released from the squad when Jim Gavin took over in 2013. Even though he was playing really well for his club, it took seven years before he got that opportunity to throw on the navy and blue jersey once more. In 2020 Dessie Farrell Brough Dias back from the wilderness, and after a week of finding his feet, COVID-19 hit and the pandemic put an end to his county career once more. Speaking to SportsJOE last year in the lead up to the All-Ireland club final against Kilmacud Crokes, Dias admitted that he didn't see a way back into the panel.

"I think now that ship has sailed, I was 29," said Dias. "It's potentially the last hurrah, really. So I think now you're better off focusing on procuring young talented players and developing them rather than bringing in someone 31 to plug a gap."

Thankfully for the All-Ireland club champion, he was wrong, and his performances at cub level have given him the opportunity to represent Dublin once again. Related links:

• Rory Gallagher reveals the two things that he demands from his Derry players
• GAA defends their handling of Kilmacud Crokes and Glen replay saga
• Craig Dias on club All-Ireland run, winning Leinster, and making his second debut for Dublin a decade after his first