Gilroy’s vision now in focus
After a league campaign whose results were nonchalantly brushed aside as no more than irrelevant, Pat Gilroy’s vision for Dublin’s footballers is finally gaining focus with Meath now very much in sight.
The St. Vincent’s clubman has carefully welded together his rearguard over the past five months with Denis Bastick the latest midfielder attempting to fill Paddy Christie’s boots. Alan Hubbard and Ger Brennan have also performed adequately throughout the league to more than likely give them the nod on June 7.
It remains difficult to see the Dubs operating with a non-playing captain once more, so it seems that Paul Griffin will make up the half-back line alongside Barry Cahill, with the out-of-form Bryan Cullen most likely the man to lose out.
This time six months ago, the only doubt about Dublin’s midfield was whether Ciarán Whelan would still have the physical strength and the mental desire to continue his remarkable championship career. But in fact, it’s now the spot of the Dubs’ sole 2008 All Star, Shane Ryan, that seems to have been relinquished.
The Naomh Mearnóg man has played a puzzling amount of football this season, and considerably less than one would expect were he merely being rested. It stands out particularly that he has not been named to feature against Mayo, a game that will showcase the impressive facilities at his own club.