The delay was okay for Gray
DUBLIN manager Tom Gray says the seven- month Covid- 19 lay- off had pluses and minuses for his All- Ireland U- 20 finalists.
Leinster champions Dublin may only include 10 of their provincial final team for Saturday’s All- Ireland decider against Galway.
They welcomed back three key players who’d been injured during the Leinster championship for last weekend’s semi- final defeat of Tyrone.
And two others, including captain Rory Dwyer, were unable to start following more recent injuries.
Gray may ultimately feel he’s gained more than he lost with Brian O’leary, who sniped 1- 1 against Tyrone, among three fit again players.
Attacker O’leary also competed in last year’s
All- Ireland final and along with Ciaran Archer will be a marked man when they face Galway.
Gray said: “Brian had a very bad hamstring injury earlier in the year.
“He would have been back for the All- Ireland semi- final, or certainly would have had some time in that game but it obviously didn’t go ahead.
“So he came back to us and Sean Lowry came back after a hamstring problem. Mark O’leary played number five for us against Tyrone and then went to midfield, he had a shoulder operation, so the three of them weren’t available to us during the Leinster championship.
“On the other side of it, Rory came on at half- time against Tyrone and has had an injury problem over the last few weeks so he hasn’t been able to train for the last three or four weeks.
“Killian Mcginnis, who is a really important member of our team, did his ACL in training three or four weeks ago so players come in and players come out.
“It’s very much a squad and we try to develop a squad ethos so no matter who comes in, no matter what position they’re playing in, they can do a job.”