Dublin’s overhaul makes the Meath tie even more intriguing
Though there had been much speculation in the media in the days before its announcement, it still came as something of a surprise when Pat Gilroy revealed his starting fifteen for his Championship bow against Meath. The team sees major changes from the one that was so comprehensively beaten by Tyrone at the quarter-final stage last year, a game they went into as favourites to progress.
Going into that match, Dublin were after annihilating Wexford in the Leinster Final, while Tyrone had struggled in qualifier wins against Westmeath and Mayo. These facts helped make Pillar Caffrey’s side the favourites to progress, and you also have to take into account that Wexford had subsequently defeated Down, who had beaten Tyrone already that year, and Ulster Champions Armagh after the Delaney Cup debacle.
With the way the team was playing, it would have been hard to envisage a scenario where, little over nine months later, that Dublin would be dismantled in such a spectacular fashion. Gone from that team are Bryan Cullen, Ciaran Whelan, Shane Ryan, Tomas Quinn, Diarmuid Connolly, Kevin Bonner, Jason Sherlock and Collie Moran. For the record, those to come in are Denis Bastick, Alan Hubbard, Ger Brennan, Darren Magee, Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, Paddy Andrews and Mark Davoren.
In one way, manager Pat Gilroy and right-hand man Mickey Whelan are well within their rights to make such drastic changes when you consider how they have come up short in their quest to get back to All-Ireland Final day, especially in that drubbing against Tyrone last year. Some of the changes, it has to be pointed out, aren’t that much of a surprise. Collie Moran’s persistent back problems have seen him retire from all levels of the sport, although he has been given a role in the backroom staff, primarily as a ‘runner’. His place is taken by Ballymun Kickhams man Alan Hubbard, who did well during the league after a shaky start, with new Captain Paul Griffin moving to a more accustomed half-back role. Also, it was a big surprise when Bernard Brogan didn’t start against Tyrone last year instead of Bonner, so that switch is nothing to write home about either.
Jason Sherlock, so often the darling of the hill, is now 33 years of age and his role with this team will probably be as an ‘impact sub’ from here on in. His demotion sees the towering Mark Davoren given a chance on the edge of the square, and if he can produce the sort of form he showed for Kilmacud Crokes, and also in the league against Kerry, then he could provide the spark that they need in that sector.
After that though, there are plenty of surprises, as we see a number of players left off who have been almost permanent fixtures for Dublin in the past. Bryan Cullen finds himself on the bench for the first time in a Championship match since the Qualifier against Derry in 2003, and can count himself extremely unlucky. A big criticism of him in the past has been that he is far too loose, but this is something that new No. 6 Ger Brennan is also guilty of. His inclusion may suggest that Gilroy and Whelan are being biased towards their fellow Vincent’s club-mate, but this theory goes straight out the window with the exclusion of Tomas ‘Mossy’ Quinn and Connolly. In the past three or four years, it has been either Quinn or Mark Vaughan in the starting line-up, but neither find themselves included this time round with Vaughan recovering from a back injury. Perhaps the management feel they have adequate free-takers in Conal Keaney and Bernard Brogan, but Quinn would no doubt argue that he could offer something in the centre-forward position, as Paddy Andrews is still largely unproven at this level. Fingallians’ Paul Flynn is another surprise, but perhaps they are looking for him to operate in a roving role similar to that of Paul Galvin or Brian Dooher.
Finally, we come to midfield, where the seemingly immovable Ciaran Whelan and Shane Ryan will both find themselves on the bench on Sunday. Whelan is said to have been carrying a slight knock, and his jersey will be filled by Darren Magee. Magee was instrumental in Kilmacud’s All-Ireland march, but there is a massive difference between club and county, and Magee hasn’t started in the Championship for quite a few years. Fitness seemed to be a problem for him last year and the year before, but he has looked far fitter this year, so maybe that we be reflected in his performance on Sunday.
Ryan is another one who is extremely unlucky, having been an All-Star last year. His spot is taken indirectly by Templeogue/Synge Street’s Denis Bastick, who has been impressive at full-back this year. Last year’s No. 3, Ross McConnell, moves to midfield where both himself and Magee will be face-to-face with two similar players in Mark Ward and Nigel Crawford.
With all these changes, there are a number of questions that will surely arise as a result. Firstly, will Dublin win with this team on Sunday?
Well, certainly the selection has put doubts in some people’s minds because some of these players would be new to each other, whereas a tried and tested team would see more people convinced they would win the match. While the old players have fallen short the last few years in the All-Ireland series, they have been near flawless in Leinster. However, there is still plenty of firepower in the forward line, so we’ll wait and see.
Secondly, will Meath be given confidence after seeing the team?
Certainly, the midfield pair of Ward and Crawford will be happy not to be facing Whelan and Ryan after their impressive performances against them in the past. They will feel quietly confident that they can at least gain parity against McConnell and Magee. They will also be glad to see Bernard Brogan out on the wing, because he won’t be nearly as dangerous out there as he can be in the full-forward line.
And thirdly, how long will the team stay the same? This is the big question. As the Championship goes on, I could see more of the old brigade coming back into the team, in particular Cullen, Whelan and Ryan, especially if the debutants don’t produce the goods. On Sunday, if things aren’t going Dublin’s way, we may well see one or two of them coming on as early as half-time.
Whatever happens, Sunday’s game may well give us even more questions that we need answers to.