HE HASN’T PAT FAITH IN YOUTH
Dublin v Tipperary Croke Park, 1pm
TIPPERARY legend Brendan Cummins has questioned whether Dublin manager Pat Gilroy truly fancies his younger players.
Gilroy brought a host of former stars back into the fold after taking over, including Conal Keaney, Johnny Mccaffrey and Peter Kelly.
Two-time All-ireland winner Cummins (inset) isn’t sure that’s a positive for his county’s League quarterfinal opponents Dublin and has questioned if Gilroy really rates his rookies.
Cummins said: “Certainly, with Gilroy going back for Keaney and (Alan) Nolan the goalkeeper and some of the older lads, you’d wonder does he have any faith in the young fellas?
“Look at what Mick Ryan (Tipperary manager) has done, throwing in younger guys.
“We’d have always said, ‘Who’s that fella? What’s he doing in there?’ and the next thing he plays well. So it’s good management of your panel.”
Ryan has cast the net wide so far in the League, handing game time to fringe players and Cummins is confident about where they’re headed. The ex-goalkeeper is particularly happy with the form of Jason Forde, who has been a prolific scorer in the absence of injury hit Seamus Callanan. Cummins said: “The fact that Seamie Callanan has been injured has meant that Jason knows when he starts, he’s going to be playing for the full match. I think in the past, certainly when Jason came onto our panel first he was a very shy young man.
“He’d a huge amount of ability but I think now with Seamie gone he’s decided, ‘right, now is my time to shine, I can do what I like in here’. He’s playing with an absolute freedom.”