FORMER DUBLIN MANAGER Tommy Lyons insists that suspended forward Diarmuid Connolly’s season is over.
The St Vincent’s star is serving a 12-week suspension after he clashed with linesman Ciaran Branagan during Dublin’s Leinster quarter-final victory over Carlow at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, and won’t be eligible until a possible All-Ireland semi-final appearance for the Sky Blues in August.
But Lyons says that he would be “staggered” if manager Jim Gavin picks Connolly for an All-Ireland semi-final.
Speaking to the RTÉ GAA podcast, Lyons said: “I think Diarmuid Connolly’s season is over, to be honest with you.
“I think it would be very hard for Diarmuid Connolly to keep training, to keep match fit and be match fit come the end of August, if Dublin are still in the championship.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“I don’t see how you can train and play, and do all of that, and be match fit at that time.
“He will struggle to get back to that pitch. If Dublin are in an All-Ireland semi-final, I couldn’t see Diarmuid Connolly starting that game in any circumstances.
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“Dublin are giving jerseys to guys now that mightn’t want to give them back.
“What work can Diarmuid do? There’s no substitute for having the whites of the eyes of championship football.
People are talking about they have to win a Leinster final and an All-Ireland quarter-final before you can talk about Diarmuid Connolly being available for selection. I’d be staggered if he was picked for an All-Ireland semi-final, if Dublin got there.
“I just think it’s going to be difficult for him. He’s a very fine talent but Dublin have a lot of very fine talents.
“It’s a very big positive for the Dublin management team. When you look at Eric Lowndes, he did very well (against Westmeath yesterday).
Dublin defender Eric Lowndes. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“If you were Philly McMahon sitting in the stands looking at that, you’d be saying that’s my jersey there.
“(Michael) Fitzsimons didn’t put a foot wrong again, after his wonderful end of season last year.
“That’s the positive for Dublin – the scoring and how much they win by is not relevant.”
Lyons, who managed Dublin for three seasons from 2002-2004, added: “Unless there’s a series of injuries that let him (Connolly) be available, I cannot see it.
“But I’m not the manager, thank God. I won’t have that decision to make.”
Former Dublin manager Tommy Lyons. INPHO
INPHO
Meanwhile, the chairman of the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has insisted that the disciplinary body was not influenced by The Sunday Game before the whopping ban was proposed for Connolly.
Joe Brolly and Dessie Dolan hit out at fellow pundit Pat Spillane on last night’s show, insisting that the Kingdom legend has rehearsed a statement to pile the pressure on the CCCC to act, in the wake of Connolly’s flashpoint with Branagan.
But CCCC chairman George Cartwright, speaking to RTÉ Radio 1′s Morning Ireland, responded: “I would refute that totally.
The Sunday Game has no bearing or influence on the GAA disciplinary system.
“The CCCC review all games on a Monday, that have been played on a Sunday or Saturday, and take action if need be, so I would refute that totally.”
'I think Diarmuid Connolly's season is over, to be honest with you' - former Dublin boss Lyons
FORMER DUBLIN MANAGER Tommy Lyons insists that suspended forward Diarmuid Connolly’s season is over.
The St Vincent’s star is serving a 12-week suspension after he clashed with linesman Ciaran Branagan during Dublin’s Leinster quarter-final victory over Carlow at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, and won’t be eligible until a possible All-Ireland semi-final appearance for the Sky Blues in August.
But Lyons says that he would be “staggered” if manager Jim Gavin picks Connolly for an All-Ireland semi-final.
Speaking to the RTÉ GAA podcast, Lyons said: “I think Diarmuid Connolly’s season is over, to be honest with you.
“I think it would be very hard for Diarmuid Connolly to keep training, to keep match fit and be match fit come the end of August, if Dublin are still in the championship.
“I don’t see how you can train and play, and do all of that, and be match fit at that time.
“He will struggle to get back to that pitch. If Dublin are in an All-Ireland semi-final, I couldn’t see Diarmuid Connolly starting that game in any circumstances.
“Dublin are giving jerseys to guys now that mightn’t want to give them back.
“What work can Diarmuid do? There’s no substitute for having the whites of the eyes of championship football.
“I just think it’s going to be difficult for him. He’s a very fine talent but Dublin have a lot of very fine talents.
“It’s a very big positive for the Dublin management team. When you look at Eric Lowndes, he did very well (against Westmeath yesterday).
“If you were Philly McMahon sitting in the stands looking at that, you’d be saying that’s my jersey there.
“(Michael) Fitzsimons didn’t put a foot wrong again, after his wonderful end of season last year.
“That’s the positive for Dublin – the scoring and how much they win by is not relevant.”
Lyons, who managed Dublin for three seasons from 2002-2004, added: “Unless there’s a series of injuries that let him (Connolly) be available, I cannot see it.
“But I’m not the manager, thank God. I won’t have that decision to make.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has insisted that the disciplinary body was not influenced by The Sunday Game before the whopping ban was proposed for Connolly.
Joe Brolly and Dessie Dolan hit out at fellow pundit Pat Spillane on last night’s show, insisting that the Kingdom legend has rehearsed a statement to pile the pressure on the CCCC to act, in the wake of Connolly’s flashpoint with Branagan.
But CCCC chairman George Cartwright, speaking to RTÉ Radio 1′s Morning Ireland, responded: “I would refute that totally.
“The CCCC review all games on a Monday, that have been played on a Sunday or Saturday, and take action if need be, so I would refute that totally.”
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