IT’S THE COST OF LIVING AS A DUB
Cormac knows there’s a heavy toll on road to earning spot in first 15
CORMAC COSTELLO says it’s a daunting task to keep a hold of a starting jersey in the Dublin team.
Costello, who has yet to start a Division 1 League Final since his debut in 2013, has missed Dublin’s last two League games.
In his absence, Dessie Farrell’s men hit 0-22 in Galway then 5-18 against Tyrone in a 21 point victory last weekend.
Dublin ran both games from start to finish and were never in danger of losing at any point.
So there’s a fair chance Costello won’t feature at the weekend and if he doesn’t, winning back his place for the start of the Leinster Championship will be at the top of his list of priorities.
“It’s a daunting task when you have the jersey as well,” said the 29-year-old.
“Because there’s always lads champing at the bit.
“There’s lads ready to take advantage of one performance, or a bad training session, or a couple of sessions in a row.
“There’s lads constantly trying to take that jersey off you.
“You’re still trying to put your best foot forward in training.
“You’re still trying to impress to the best of your ability and earn the right to wear the jersey.
“No one has a right to the jersey.”
There are some non-negotiables in the Dublin side and one of them is Con O’callaghan (inset), who has probably been the outstanding player in the League so far.
The Cuala man is back to his best again after an injuryhit 2022 and what was only a decent 2023 by his own standards, even though he still finished as the third highest scorer from play in the Championship with 2-23 (29).
Costello said: “Con is a top-class forward. He’s very versatile. He can play anywhere on the pitch.
“What makes him such a great player is he’s very unselfish and is the ultimate team player, which is what you aspire to be.
“So playing alongside him you know if you’re in a better position he’ll give you the ball and you’d like to think likewise.
“He’s in great form this year and long may it continue.
“I know the last couple of years he might say he’s not at his best but he still is.
“I think his bar is so high that anything less than shooting the score lights out and being man of the match isn’t acceptable – or people think he didn’t perform well.
“But I think even the games that we might perceive he didn’t play well, you‘d still see that he put in a good shift.
“That’s why he’s so good.”