Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Connolly: Dubs will get to six
FORMER Dublin hero Diarmuid Connolly can’t see the Blues being stopped in their quest for a sixth All-ireland title in a row.
Connolly, who won six All-irelands with the Dubs, retired last month and it has been a year of transition in the capital with Dessie Farrell replacing Jim Gavin as manager.
Raiding defender Jack Mccaffrey will also play no part in the unique 2020 season and Connolly said: “It’s going to be a tough one. Kerry have won the National League and they’ve been blooding a lot of new guys into their set up.
“Donegal still have their stalwarts and I fancy them for Ulster although Tyrone could put a spanner in the works with Conor Mckenna back. Mayo and Galway will be favourites in Connacht
but Mayo for me are a bit stop/start.”
As well as Connolly, Bernard Brogan, Darren Daly and Eoghan O’gara are some of the other all-conquering Dubs to retire from the county game in the past 12 months.
They are still the clear favourites to defend their title and they kick off their quest for a 10th Leinster title in a row next weekend against Westmeath.
Connolly told Boylesports: “Yes there’s a few bodies missing for Dublin but I can see Dessie Farrell starting to blood a few new lads. I have to give a shout out to Paddy Small who has had an immense impact on the panel so far from what I saw in the last couple of games in the National League.
“For me it’ll be another Dublin v Kerry final and Dublin to win it by one or two points.”