NOT LONG AFTER Dublin’s demolition of Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final last month, Colm O’Rourke called for the county to be split in two for the greater good of the football championship.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Earlier this week, Sean Cavanagh – who was on the receiving end of that 12-point humbling by Jim Gavin’s side – said he feared the Dubs “could possibly win eight out of (the next) 10″ All-Irelands.
When Oisin McConville is asked to assess Dublin’s dominance, he takes a different tack, looking at them through the eyes of his five-year-old son.
“They are awesome,” says McConville. “How they dispensed with Tyrone in the first 20 minutes – I was just sitting back enjoying it. When my wee man – he’s only five and football nuts – whenever I say I’m going to a Dublin game he wants to go.
“If I tell him I’m going to an Ulster championship match, maybe even Armagh, he’ll take it or leave it. If he wants to see football, he’ll go to the Dublin match. That’s the way people are. That’s why there’s a scramble from all over the country to go and see this game.”
That said, he doesn’t see the upcoming All-Ireland final as the foregone conclusion many believe it to be.
Advertisement
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
For McConville, the all talk of an impending Dublin dominance is “a populist thing to say at the minute” and he believes Mayo are well-equipped to claim victory on Sunday week.
“They have an opportunity to win it. Definitely have a chance. They’re the only team that can match Dublin physically and athletically, and that makes a hell of a difference.
“I think this All-Ireland final can eclipse the hurling for the first year in a long time. Because I can’t see how this could be a poor game. I really can’t. Mayo are in the best position they’ve been in in a long time – as long as they don’t over-think it.
“If they play with the energy they’ve been playing with, it should make for an awesome All-Ireland final.”
Tony McEntee, a member of Stephen Rochford’s backroom team, is a Crossmaglen native who played alongside McConville before later managing him.
“He’s been spending a lot more time on the field over the last number of games,” says McConville.
“I played along with Tony and then I played under Tony and he was a different character to deal with as a manager and a coach than he was as a player. He has his ideas about how his team should play; obviously Stephen Rochford is the manager so at the end of the day he decides what way they play etc.
Tony McEntee speaks to the Mayo players before their replay against Kerry Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
“I think you can see his stamp come over the team in the last number of years and particularly in the last six months. That’s what he’s want me to say anyway! They’ve improved with every game you’d have to say and they seem to be learning a lot.”
Might McEntee have been behind the left-field move to deploy Aidan O’Shea at full-back against Kerry?
“It wouldn’t be unlike Tony’s idea but there had to be some joined-up thinking from the whole management team. It wasn’t a complete disaster if you look at the fact that they got over the line but I don’t think he’ll be playing there again somehow.
Oisin McConville and Dr Brendan Murphy were speaking at the National Concussion Symposium Media Briefing in Croke Park yesterday Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
“I think they’ll play him centre forward and get him to play in a similar role behind the midfield and do whatever damage he can do from there. That’ll fit into what Dublin are doing as well with (Cian) O’Sullivan going back to play as a sweeper, so that’s probably where they’ll play him but they’ll probably play him a more deeper role than they’ve ever played him.
“He seems to pick up a lot of ball and he looks like he’s happy enough to do that job and play there. That’s probably what he’ll end up doing.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
19 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
'I think this All-Ireland football final can eclipse the hurling for the first year in a long time'
NOT LONG AFTER Dublin’s demolition of Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final last month, Colm O’Rourke called for the county to be split in two for the greater good of the football championship.
Earlier this week, Sean Cavanagh – who was on the receiving end of that 12-point humbling by Jim Gavin’s side – said he feared the Dubs “could possibly win eight out of (the next) 10″ All-Irelands.
When Oisin McConville is asked to assess Dublin’s dominance, he takes a different tack, looking at them through the eyes of his five-year-old son.
“They are awesome,” says McConville. “How they dispensed with Tyrone in the first 20 minutes – I was just sitting back enjoying it. When my wee man – he’s only five and football nuts – whenever I say I’m going to a Dublin game he wants to go.
“If I tell him I’m going to an Ulster championship match, maybe even Armagh, he’ll take it or leave it. If he wants to see football, he’ll go to the Dublin match. That’s the way people are. That’s why there’s a scramble from all over the country to go and see this game.”
That said, he doesn’t see the upcoming All-Ireland final as the foregone conclusion many believe it to be.
For McConville, the all talk of an impending Dublin dominance is “a populist thing to say at the minute” and he believes Mayo are well-equipped to claim victory on Sunday week.
“They have an opportunity to win it. Definitely have a chance. They’re the only team that can match Dublin physically and athletically, and that makes a hell of a difference.
“I think this All-Ireland final can eclipse the hurling for the first year in a long time. Because I can’t see how this could be a poor game. I really can’t. Mayo are in the best position they’ve been in in a long time – as long as they don’t over-think it.
“If they play with the energy they’ve been playing with, it should make for an awesome All-Ireland final.”
Tony McEntee, a member of Stephen Rochford’s backroom team, is a Crossmaglen native who played alongside McConville before later managing him.
“He’s been spending a lot more time on the field over the last number of games,” says McConville.
“I played along with Tony and then I played under Tony and he was a different character to deal with as a manager and a coach than he was as a player. He has his ideas about how his team should play; obviously Stephen Rochford is the manager so at the end of the day he decides what way they play etc.
“I think you can see his stamp come over the team in the last number of years and particularly in the last six months. That’s what he’s want me to say anyway! They’ve improved with every game you’d have to say and they seem to be learning a lot.”
Might McEntee have been behind the left-field move to deploy Aidan O’Shea at full-back against Kerry?
“It wouldn’t be unlike Tony’s idea but there had to be some joined-up thinking from the whole management team. It wasn’t a complete disaster if you look at the fact that they got over the line but I don’t think he’ll be playing there again somehow.
“I think they’ll play him centre forward and get him to play in a similar role behind the midfield and do whatever damage he can do from there. That’ll fit into what Dublin are doing as well with (Cian) O’Sullivan going back to play as a sweeper, so that’s probably where they’ll play him but they’ll probably play him a more deeper role than they’ve ever played him.
“He seems to pick up a lot of ball and he looks like he’s happy enough to do that job and play there. That’s probably what he’ll end up doing.”
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
Davy Fitzgerald agrees to stay on as Wexford manager in 2018
Sligo on hunt for new football boss after Kildare native Carew steps down
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
dubvmayo GAA mayo day Oisin McConville Dublin Mayo