O’Sullivan primed to bolster Dubs quest
Miracle recovery sees defender fit for decider as Brogan bemoans absence of Connolly’s flair
DUBLIN’S four-in-a-row dream is set to be boosted by another miracle recovery from star centre-back Cian O’Sullivan.
A hamstring problem saw the Kilmacud Crokes defender (right) limp out of the first half of the All-Ireland semi-final win over Galway but his extraordinary powers of recovery have come to the rescue and he is reported to be going extremely well in training.
O’Sullivan, who also overcame a hamstring problem in the lead-up to the 2015 All-Ireland showpiece, is one of just three Dubs to start all five recent final victories – the others being Stephen Cluxton and James McCarthy.
That means Jim Gavin is likely to name an unchanged team, which is likely to be the same for Mickey Harte tonight even though Conor Meyler, who missed the semi-final win over Monaghan, is back in contention.
Should Dublin justify strong favour- itism and defeat Tyrone, Gavin would be one title away from the immortal five-in-a-row and that would come as no surprise to former Dublin panellist Paddy Quinn, who attended Gavin’s first team meeting in late 2012.
“He told us that his aim was to win three All-Irelands in the next three years. He had the goal set out and he had it planned out to a tee how that was going to happen,” Quinn told the Irish Independent. “That plan may have been ripped up slightly when Donegal beat them, but he developed an even more bullet-proof structure to ensure they got back on top and I’d be surprised if they don’t do five in a row.”
Elsewhere, former Dublin star Alan Brogan – a three-time All-Ireland winner in Sky Blue – feels their greater efficiency in front of the posts will eventually wear Harte’s side down, but he bemoans the absence of Diarmuid Connolly’s flair and feels the final loses some its lustre without him.
“Diarmuid is maybe the one guy that still isn’t afraid to try the outrageous and will have that go from anywhere on the field. His presence will be missed.”