On Wednesday, it was confirmed that 2015 Footballer of the Year Jack McCaffrey was returning to Dublin’s 2017 panel.
A shudder surely went through the rest of Ireland.
McCaffrey took a season off from winning All-Irelands but is back now and, judging by comments he made at our GAA Hour live show last year, as hungry for success as ever.
Many of Jim Gavin’s senior panel are being rewarded with a holiday for their latest Sam Maguire success but three-in-a-row is the latest obsession. Diarmuid Connolly perfectly captures the Dubs’ mentality. He told us:
“It’s not going to last forever. Make hay while the sun shines.”
The sun appears to be shining rudely ahead of another hectic year of club and county football. Dublin’s panel has a few men approaching their mid 30s but there are plenty of young men lining up for a regular starting position.
You may recognise many of these names but while they played important support roles in the past – a couple had starting runs – 2017 may well be the year where they grasp that desired jersey number and make it their own.
Colm Basquel
Highly rated young forward who has already done club championship wonders with Ballyboden St Enda’s. Touted as a long-term senior star by established names such as Michael Darragh MacAuley and Bernard Brogan.
Made a memorable cameo off the bench to help Dublin’s U21 side to the Leinster title last March and this was a few days after inspiring Ballyboden to All-Ireland success.
Con O’Callaghan
Tearing it up for Cuala in this season’s All-Ireland Hurling Club Championship, O’Callaghan has opted to focus on the inter-county footballers and is a regular member of Gavin’s panel. Will miss out on Dublin’s games in early 2017 as an All-Ireland semi-final against Slaughtneil awaits.
Has an impressive minor and U21 scoring record to his name and is expected to feature more frequently for the senior side as the year progresses.
Michael Fitzsimons
Man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland final replay as Dublin finally overcame Mayo, Fitzsimons finally started to get the credit he deserved. Had a brief stint as a starter before dropping back to the subs’ bench. Got a late shout as full-back for that memorable October 1 game at Croker.
Will be eager to push on this year. If you want an endorsement of Fitzsimon’s abilities, look no further than these Bernard Brogan comments:
“The most underrated player – and I’m delighted he got his just rewards [in the final] – is probably Mick Fitzsimons. Ask any forward in Dublin, he is your worst nightmare to mark in training.
“He is one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met, a really, really tight, sticky corner back and I was just delighted to see him get his just rewards the other day.”
Good enough for us.
Cormac Costello
Another young played tipped for the top before stuttering slightly and then starring off the bench in the All-Ireland final replay.
Costello had flirtations with the starting 15 but initially struggled to translate underage form to the senior game. Showed no signs of that against Mayo as he arrived onto the pitch like a man possessed and got the job done.
Does not want that Kevin Mcmanamon, super-sub role. His next goal is to get into the forward line and not look back.
Yes these guys are all known but if we have four men pushing to start, who the hell drops out?
