MACAULEY’S LOST MEDAL

MICHAEL Darragh Macauley admitted yesterday that last year’s AllIreland medal meant nothing to him. The former Footballer of the Year, after recovering from a suspected cruciate injury, played in just the final 13 minutes of Dublin’s quarterfinal win over Monaghan last summer and admitted that he was left ‘frustrated’ after playing no part in the AllIreland final win over Mayo. ‘I wasn’t happy walking out of Croke Park that day, as much as I was delighted for Dublin and my mates. ‘It’s a hugely frustrating experience that you can work so hard all year and it’s not how you dreamed of the year finishing up. ‘It wasn’t a bitter sentiment, it just didn’t work out for me,’ said Macauley, speaking yesterday at the launch of Fanta Sandstorm. And the Ballyboden ace admitted that he places no value on what was his fifth All-Ireland winners medal as a result. ‘I felt I didn’t contribute. Maybe if that was my first year playing for Dublin, it might have been a different story. ‘But I suppose, in the place that I was in my career, not playing in the All-Ireland semi-final, final was not where I wanted to be. Basically, not playing in whole Championship, let’s face it. ‘So, no, the medal doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. It’s not a bitterness thing, it’s just the way it was. That’s the kind of cards I was dealt.’ And Macauley, who started in seven of Dublin’s eight League games, also revealed he held talks with Jim Gavin prior to coming back this season. ‘I met with Jim in the off-season. I decided to go again and you can’t half-a*** these things.’