The jam-packed inter-county season has been under the microscope in recent days, with managers such as Jim McGuinness and Colm O’Rourke calling for change.
Injuries to key players prompted the duo to speak out, with the Donegal manager criticising the tight schedule for not allowing competitions ‘to breathe.’
“You are here tonight and it could be a hamstring injury or a calf injury and you’re thinking ‘that could be him gone (for the season),” McGuinness said on Saturday night, of the injury his captain Patrick McBrearty sustained against Meath.
“There is no time and I think that’s harsh and hard on players. The split-season for me doesn’t allow the championships to breathe.”
By virtue of the group stages of the All-Ireland football championship, the increased number of games is arguably more at fault than the split season per se.
None-the-less, Dublin forward Cormac Costello knows all about the predicament.
Having sustained a ‘small calf issue’ three weeks ago, the eight-time All-Ireland winner has as a result missed Dublin’s last two games.
He also missed out on some action earlier in the League due to a ‘bang on the nose’ but while his campaign has been injury-interrupted, and while he has missed more games than usual because of it, he is still a fan of the schedule in question.
“I got a bang on the nose off Lee Gannon against Roscommon.
“Usually it’s the corner backs on the other team that you have to watch out for,” laughs Costello ahead of this weekend’s Allianz National League Division One final against Derry.
“I came back from that.
“But I picked up a small calf issue before the Galway game and that’s sidelined me for the last two games but I’m hoping to be available for selection this weekend,” he confirms.
“I still like it (the schedule),” he says.
“Even though it may sound contradictory that a small injury like this has me missing a few games, I do still think it’s a good system.
“I can only speak for myself, but I love playing matches, week-on-week doesn’t really bother me.”
“It means that there is less time for recovery but that is something we’re used to,” he says.
“Playing with your club, especially as a dual player, you are playing week on week anyway so I like that. You want to play matches.”
“The good thing with the split season as well, for me, is that I’ve gotten to go back playing hurling in the summer.
“I took a step back from it last year and didn’t play but in previous years, I did. It’s not so glamorous playing hurling in the winter and when I did get the chance to play over the last few years, it was really enjoyable,” he adds.
The 29-year-old had one of his best seasons in blue last year. He puts this down to his ability to deal with adversity down through the years.
“Resilience is a key trait in sport. Until you’re faced with adversity, you don’t really know where you’re at.
“Any sports-person will tell you. Very few have a career that’s smooth-sailing all the way through.
“You will have setbacks. Knocks, injuries, selection problems, whatever it is, but it’s about how you respond.
“I’ve had my fair share of those moments over the years, but it is all about backing yourself, and believing in your own ability as a player. That’s something I always try to do.
It has led to him assuming the added responsibility of taking the frees, in the absence of Dean Rock, and while he doesn’t know if he’ll be kicking them this year, it’s something he will take very seriously if asked.
“You have to put the hours in.
“I think that’s why Deano was so good, that he put countless hours in.
“At the end of the day, if you’re a free-taker, it’s your responsibility for the team, that you have to take very seriously.
“Different players have different roles and if you’re handed that role, you want to put your best foot forward.
“You practice before training, after training. You designate time to it outside of training too, just to solely focus on your kicks.
“You have to go after it. It’s something I have been going after too and I take it quite seriously.
“I was the club’s free-taker, and underage for Dublin as well.
“The last couple of years, I was tasked with it and I don’t know what the future holds but if I am tasked with it again, I will be putting my best foot forward for the team anyway,” he says.
Costello is one of many Dublin footballers who were once promising hurlers.
He showed his breath-taking abilities as a hurler back in 2011, when he scored 4-2 from play in Dublin’s All-Ireland minor semi-final victory over Waterford.
He subsequently lost two All-Ireland minor hurling finals and recalls those memories with great fondness.
“Look I do miss it.
“I remember some great games for Dublin as a minor. We really clicked that day against Waterford. Ciaran Kilkenny, Eric Lowndes, Conor McHugh, Emmett O Conghaile would all have played dual. Some great days out though.”
But that was from another life. “I’m on the senior football panel now so that’s the full focus.”
