SCULLY SETS BAR FOR WANNABEES
KARL O’KANE
THE Dublin O’byrne Cup prototype player is right there in front of the latest raft of capital hopefuls looking to force their way into Dessie Farrell’s plans.
That prototype is Niall Scully, the only Dublin household name involved in the O’byrne Cup. Let’s get that way out of the way first.
Why is the Templeogue Synge Street man, who turns 30 in April, playing when no other front line squad members are?
“I had an extended break there in November, December,” said Scully. “I went away with the girlfriend. This was a good opportunity to get some minutes into the legs and to play some football because all I did while I was away was running.
“We’re here to play football so I needed to get a few touches in.”
The current crop need look no further for inspiration, although Scully had to be patient. He was playing in his third O’byrne
Cup before he made his mark.
Back in 2017 Scully played every game as Dublin won the O’byrne Cup and was the team’s top performer in most of them.
Very few of Scully’s O’byrne Cup starting team-mates in the 2017 final victory over Kildare, where he was outstanding, pushed on, bar goalkeeper Evan Comerford.
The bench was more significant though and included Colm
Basquel, who won an All Star last year, Killian O’gara, who made an impact last year, and Robbie Mcdaid, who was a regular in the 2020 All-ireland victory.
“For the lads that are there and for myself it’s not so much going and winning the O’byrne Cup,” said Scully.
“It’s a great opportunity for Dessie (left) to see lads new to the panel. It will be more so about the performance and then what the lads take out of it themselves, rather than the result.”