Super 24-page Championship 2018 PULLOUT
EXPERT ANALYSIS FROM BERNARD FLYNN & DJ CAREY PLUS WALLCHART
PETER CANAVAN believes there’s a chink in Jim Gavin’s armour as Dublin boss for the first time – and that it could cost them the four-in-a-row.
The Tyrone great suspects Gavin “may not be in full control” of the Blues’ ship and that the reigning All-ireland champions could be vulnerable.
Canavan sees ongoing uncertainty over Diarmuid Connolly’s plans for the summer as the first sign of real vulnerability in the champions’ camp.
And he speculates that injuries to one or two key players on top of that could be fatal to the cause of the hot favourites for the All-ireland crown.
“This is the first time maybe where you could say that Gavin is not in complete control, whereby it appears Diarmuid Connolly has definitely ruffled a few feathers,” said the two-time All-ireland winner.
“Up until that point, Dublin have been so well marshalled and co-ordinated and organised – very little was getting out of the camp.
“That comes with winning and they’ve been so successful. But if there is any team can cope with it and has the personnel and depth, it’s probably Dublin.”
Gavin stated at the Leinster Championship launch last week that the door was still open for a return by Connolly.
The gifted St Vincent’s playmaker made two cameo appearances in the All-ireland last year after the suspension he picked up after the provincial opener against Carlow.
Connolly, 30, was only sent on for a couple of minutes against Tyrone in the semi-final but, after coming on at half-time in the final against Mayo, made a telling contribution – earning the free that led to Dean Rock’s winning point.
“If it needed reminding when Jim Gavin needed somebody to get them over the line last year, it was Diarmuid Connolly he brought in,” said Canavan.
“Despite it appearing that things maybe weren’t going that well behind the scenes, he still turned to him when he needed him most.
“When Dublin needed to win a free in the dying seconds of the game it was Diarmuid Connolly who did it.
“What team couldn’t do without a player of his skill and class? So if he doesn’t play that’s a loss to them, of course it is. It’s a massive loss to them. And if they pick up one or two injuries to key players it will give other teams certainly hope and confidence. They looked a different team without Stephen Cluxton [in the last two League games].
“If Brian Fenton wasn’t in midfield it changes a lot of things too but you could be clutching at straws.
“He [Gavin] has unearthed a couple of really good players in the National League. Niall Scully has really emerged as a quality player, and looks very comfortable in that half forward role.
“Brian Howard has had some very good games as well. So, of course he is a loss to them but they still have a very strong panel.”