AN IMPORTANT MOMENT in the life-cycle of this Dublin team took place with 10 minutes left in their routine win over Carlow.
Regular free-taker Dean Rock left the action in the 58th minute, with six converted frees to his name.
Dublin were awarded a free in front of the posts two minutes later, but despite the presence of Bernard Brogan on the field, debutant Con O’Callaghan stood over it.
Brogan was typically Rock’s understudy and took the close-range frees when the Ballymun attacker was withdrawn in the past.
But Brogan left it to the young Cuala forward to split the posts from that dead ball, and another one five minutes later.
It may seem significant, but it’s a clear sign Jim Gavin has recognised the need to keep things fresh in his squad.
Last night felt like a changing of the guard in the Dublin attack. O’Callaghan started at full-forward with Brogan relegated to an impact sub role off the bench.
Debuts were the order of the day. Four of the nine forwards who featured in Dublin’s attack last night were making their championship bows.
O’Callaghan got little joy out of a packed Carlow defence, oceans apart from the wide-open spaces he enjoyed in Dublin’s recent All-Ireland winning U21 campaign.
He was joined on the field by Cuala team-mate Mark Schutte, who also made his senior football debut for Dublin yesterday.
“I’d know Mark, he won an All-Ireland with his (U-21) team a few years back,” said Jim Gavin after the game. “We know each other quite well, obviously he’s been brought in on his club form, he’s been outstanding with Cuala.
“He’s carried his form through to the county team and he’s progressing very well.”
Schutte came on for the impressive Niall Scully, while Conor McHugh also arrived off the bench and kicked a fine score.
“I thought Niall did well,” added Gavin. “I thought all the forwards played well, he did his part in our game-plan and tagged on a nice point as well.
“So he’ll be happy with his performance and likewise for all the forwards, they all played their part. I think it was a real team performance.”
The team continues to evolve, but Brogan looked sharp on his introduction and curled over a good effort off either foot. Dublin scored 0-19 points against a team that built a wall across the 45.
Paul Flynn and Cormac Costello have yet to return from injury, to further bolster Gavin’s hand up front.
Wow the second Andy Lee article in a few days and six short paragraphs well done lads. At least it wasn’t a copy of a newstalk interview like the previous one. The 42 has spend the last 6 months banging on about MMA and Conor Mcgregor relentlessly. Multiple articles a day. All the while Andy Lee, an actual World Champion, has been pretty much ignored. The coverage before his last fight was utterly pathetic one article the week of the fight. One!
Might top that this time round. Although Conor McGregor might tweet something during the week so that will probably take up sometime.Lee is a class act and a complete gentlemen and gets involved in none of the nonsense seen at the convention centre last week. Maybe ye guys could give someone the whole country can rally around a bit more prominence.
Well said
Boxing as a sport is living off its past glories. It is boring and slow these days, when compared to other forms of combat.
It says it all that the biggest fight in boxing is between a pair of old men. If boxing wanted to help itself, it should have forced may weather and pacman to fight years ago….instead they are doing it now when they are both well past their prime and looking for one last paycheck.
Don’t get me wrong…..Andy lee is a great ambassador and I wish him well, but boxing is the past…mma is the future
You’d swear you had to pay for the 42..
Skippy, well said.
Patrick, your meaningless twaddle could’ve been condensed a tad itself
In fairness Patrick not many media outlets are covering Andy lee and I’m not sure why, possible because he is based in New York the last few years. It’s bad form but there is no need to knock MMA because of it. MMA fans have waited a long time for a genuine contender to back and support and mcgregor, for all the show boating and publicity stunts is a disciplined hard working athlete.
Never has there been so little fuss about an Irish World Champion as Andy Lee
Its a disgrace. Im a big Andy fan n rate him as one of Irelands best ever but its neither Conors nor MMA’s fault the media tend to over look his achievements n how well he’s represented Ireland throughout his career.
Conor is breaking new ground n he is doing an AMAZING job for Ireland in wat is still a new sport.
Andy has done an amazing job so far representing us in a traditional & established sport n the media coverage he doesnt get from the national press is disgusting but that isnt Conor’s nor MMA’s fault.
Theres room for both sports n theres room for two superstars on our island, give Conor his due n leave him outa yer idiotic “Either/Or” equations when talkin about Andy
Absolutely.
I think Conor is fantastic. Just wish Andy Lee got a bit more recognition.
MacGregor has certainly put MMA on the map in Ireland
Technically Andy right now is boxing better than any Irish boxer Ive ever seen n Id go so far as to say that technically he is now shoulder to shoulder with GGG.
Not many will agree because he doesnt get the coverage n respect he deserves but its theres a more battle proven, harder punching boxer with better stamina right now then its maybe Kovalev whos my Lb for Lb number 1 right now or Golovkin who I dont say much good about coz hes in tha same division as Andy & Jay Quigley.
Right now Adny Lee is the fighter we were all expecting to come outa the Kronk Gym. Hes like a coiled spring n is hitting harder than ever like a cobra striking, like the Motor city Cobra himself Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns a genuine all time great.
Im not joking when I say that Andy is Irelands Tommy Hearns, hes the Limerick City Cobra. Nobody in the sport has paid the dues Andy Lee has n the wealth of knowledge he has acquired in the sport from Training with the likes of Tommy Hearns is now all starting to shine.
Andy is the Real McCoy n after he KO’s Quillin on sat night not just the Irish Press will be kissin his ass but the Brits will be too.
Carl Froch ?
Hes a Good’un but Andy isnt more than 3 high level defences away from him.
Roy Jones Jr had a great lead hook but Andy Lee has the most powerful lead hook Ive seen since Mickey Wards.
Its disgusting the lack of acknowledgement he gets n it can be coz of nothing other than politics.
As far as i am aware the42.ie have been known to sponsor an MMA fighter and his corner recently so it would make reasonable sense that they would promote the sport. You also cannot argue with the growth in MMA interest lately