RIVALS DUBLIN UP
Blues not in a League of their own this year and gives huge hope to chasing pack: Darran
FORMER Kerry star Darran O’sullivan says Dublin’s faltering League start gives hope to the chasing pack.
Although Dublin are without several front line players and are behind most, if not all, counties in terms of their training schedule, it’s not particularly different to any of the previous number of years in that regard and they’ve still managed to win the League in five out of the last six seasons.
Kerry’s thrilling one-point win over the All-ireland champions in Tralee condemned them to their second defeat in three games having also lost their opener against Monaghan, making it their worst start to the League since 2015.
O’sullivan, 2009 All-ireland winning captain, told Paddy Power News: “If anyone said they didn’t enjoy that, they’re lying. There was good scores, a bit of aggro and it had a bit of spike.
“For neutrals and GAA fans in general, it’s good for them to see
Dublin getting a bit of a beating because they just look so invincible at times.
“They’ve been cruising through the leagues with half a team at times and half the amount of training. It’s good to see one of the supposed also rans to be the team that does it.
“It gives a bit of hope for other people.”
Emotions spilled over after the final whistle with a mass brawl breaking out in the middle of the field, which the CCCC is set to look into with both counties likely to be facing fines at the very least.
O’sullivan (below) continued: “Nobody wants to see fellas falling over each other and throwing digs at the end of a great game like that. But emotion does get the better of fellas.
“If one of your buddies hits the deck, you want your buddies to fall in for you. I know it’s not great and it’s not the right thing to be saying but it does show a lot of togetherness by both teams that nobody just walking by.
“They all wanted to get in, whether it was to pull a fella out, or to stop it. These things happen.”
O’sullivan also believes speculation surrounding a Diarmuid Connolly return is “ideal” for Dubs boss Jim Gavin.
It was revealed by Mirror Sport last week that Connolly, who is back training with his club St Vincent’s, is engaging in one-to-one sessions with Dublin strength and conditioning coach Bryan Cullen, something that was predictably denied by Gavin on Saturday.
“The team are after losing two League games and there’s no talk about it. It’s all about Diarmuid Connolly and the attention is off how the team are doing. I don’t reckon Jim Gavin is too bothered.
“The fact that it is still rumbling on means either it hasn’t affected them much or that they want it to continue on.”
The team are after losing two games and there’s no talk about it. It’s all about Connolly..