Fitzsimons was certain his patience would pay off

NORMAL service will resume in Dublin in the coming days. If the team doesn’t have a familiar look in Breffini Park today, it certainly will by the time Mickey Harte’s Tyrone roll down Jones’ Road next Saturday.

By then, they will resemble the force that will defend their All-Ireland crown and those that impressed in their January auditions will be forgotten. Not by Jim Gavin, though. Niall Scully’s superb contributions for Dublin’s third-string side will be remembered if any vacancies appear in the half-back line.

Michael Fitzsimons may also tell the O’Byrne Cup winners to keep the faith. His experience last year showed there’s always a chance. After losing his place to Davy Byrne before the summer, and being used as a substitute for all but one of the Championship games, he was thrown in at the deep end for the All-Ireland final replay and gave a performance that showed why many consider him the best defender in Dublin club football.

Fitzsimons (right) had been informed a few days before the replay that he would play, but it didn’t alter his preparations.

‘I just stuck to the normal process of preparing for a game, as I would have done for any other. I have played in plenty of big games down the years and this was no different,’ says Fitzsimons, who turns 28 in April.

Even after losing his place ahead of the Championship, Fitzsimons wasn’t downhearted. ‘It is a squad game and Jim emphasised that. It is difficult going from a regular starter to a couple of years when you are not playing.

‘But I had a couple of injuries to contend with and every substitute has a role to play. Even if you are a substitute, you know in the modern game, there’s a good chance that you will be called upon.’

When Fitzsimons won an All-Ireland medal in 2011 at corner-back, he was the first player from the club to do so since the late great Mick Holden back in 1983, something that filled him with pride.

Of course, the Dalkey club is seen these days predominantly as a hurling stronghold as Mattie Kenny’s side aim for an All-Ireland title. Fitzsimons grew up with David Treacy, Paul Schutte and Oisín Gough and won an All-Ireland B Féile title as well as a Dublin Under-21 championship in the small ball code.

Although he gravitated towards football at under-21 level, it hasn’t stopped him getting caught up in the excitement around the club. It makes a change from talking about the possibility of three-in-a-row.

When that particular subject is broached, the defender gives an answer that could have dropped from his county manager’s mouth.

‘We are not focusing on the outcome, we are not focusing on trophies. We know that if we play well in each game and perform to the best of our abilities, there is a good chance that we will do what we set out to do. Last year we never talked about the two in a row. I was barely aware of it.’

As long as Gavin can call on players like Fitzsimons from his reserves, talk of three-in-a-rows are unlikely to cease any time soon.