Dublin have mentality to thrive in winter of discontent
Fenton relishes away-day challenge
BRIAN FENTON admitted All-Ireland champions Dublin might be disadvantaged in their quest for a sixth consecutive All-Ireland title if they have to hit the road for this novel, knock-out football Championship.
With drastic limits on attendances set to continue and the capital being singled out for increased restrictions due to the level of coronavirus cases reported in Dublin, the reigning champions face a number of unknown variables, beginning with where their title defence will start — and finish.
Also unknown is how much of their historic bid will take place in Croke Park, where the fivetime All-Ireland winner has yet to lose a Championship game in his own remarkable run since breaking into the team in 2015.
‘Maybe if it was full with crowds you’d prefer it to be in Croke Park, for the atmosphere.
‘I suppose it comes down to familiarity. You might be at a disadvantage if you don’t know or if you haven’t been to a provincial ground — I haven’t played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yet. It’s just that unfamiliarity.
‘Look, there is only so much you can control. Going to a provincial venue — we go to those during the League, or over the last few years, the Super 8s. And we’ve done okay, thankfully.
‘When you cross the white line, it’s not every man for himself but it’s that team mentality, that pack mentality, “We’re coming out of here with a victory”.’
The straight knock-out element, a necessary product of the restricted timeframe of the winter All-Ireland competition, adds another element of danger to Dublin’s chances. But Fenton is just glad to have a chance to defend that crown after becoming resigned to the idea that the season was over earlier in lockdown. Instead, the squad trained last night for the first time since the enforced break.
‘You’re looking at straight knock out, maybe down in provincial grounds, and that brings with it its own excitement.
‘Over the last few years we’ve had Super 8s games, where you could afford to lose one and still progress. But now you’re looking at, if you don’t perform, if you don’t play your best, any team could nab you. You’re gone. So there’s always going to be the bookies’ favourites but every game is going to be so important.
‘I was all for crowds and the Hill 16 buzz. Dublin fans, they’re incredible and they lift us when we’re down.
‘But I think having played club games, it’s changed my perspective on that a bit. I think as players, we’re all competitive. It doesn’t matter if there’s crowds there. I’m going to drive on.’
Fenton and Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy took part in a Zoom call yesterday to promote a new partnership between the GPA, the GAA and Avonmore Protein Milk which sees a slice of the proceeds of each litre of Avonmore Protein Milk sold going to support the GPA’s player support programme. It’s that programme that provides off-field assistance to intercounty players across health, education, personal and career development. Monies raised through the partnership also support grassroots GAA development projects. After his own club Raheny had a positive Covid case and had to follow the necessary return-to-play protocols, he knows how fragile the whole season is. ‘I definitely am. It was the first positive test in Dublin GAA. The first the county board had to deal with. ‘Out of respect for our employers, we all wanted to get tested ourselves. But it turned out that according to the GAA guidelines, and from the Government and NPHET, we were classed as casual contacts. And as we didn’t develop symptoms, we didn’t need to go for a test. Which is reassuring. Because we’re not living with the lads we’re going to be training with. Yes, there will be close contact. But the classification is that we’re still casual contacts.
‘And if there is a new case, as long as no one develops symptoms, we can train on and play away. That’s the risk you have to take, I think.
‘It’s exciting too. To get inter-county games at the end of the year, I’m absolutely excited about it.
‘You look at the rugby lads, their teams are spread across two buses going to training. There is going to be so much we can’t predict.
‘We don’t know what to expect, county boards won’t know what to expect.
‘You control as much as you can in terms of your preparation and your recovery and training. Ultimately it might be taken from you if there is a cluster.
‘Who knows? For me, it just adds to the excitement and how unique this year has been.’