“It’s not going to last forever. Make hay while the sun shines.”
Diarmuid Connolly knows the score. Dublin are on top right now but it was not so long ago that many felt they were eons away from ever winning Sam Maguire again.
The current Dublin team is one that thrives on hard work, hours upon hours of training drills and maximum accountability. Everyone plays their part.
One player that ticks all of those boxes is Kevin McManamon. Dublin’s super-sub for the longest time, the St Jude’s forward started the All-Ireland final replay after making an impression off the bench in the drawn game against Mayo.
McManamon scored a fine, early point [off his right boot] and his direct running won frees that Dean Rock gratefully slotted over to keep Dublin ticking.
He was called ashore in the second half of that replay win but exited without issue and was there roaring encouragement from the sidelines thereafter. It was no mistake that Connolly sought McManamon out after the final whistle – the Dubs, he knew, would not be there without him.
Speaking to The GAA Hour, Connolly marvelled at the graft McManamon puts into making himself a dangerous forward and a true asset to his team. He said:
“Kev is one guy that was struggling to get into the team as he didn’t have that ability [to shoot off either foot].
“Now most of his scores are coming off his good foot, not his better one.”
There is no better example of McManamon contributing points off his left foot than the sublime score he got to put Dublin a point ahead of Kerry heading into injury time of the semi-final. Peter Crowley showed him the outside but McManamon, despite a slip, curled over a beauty.
“That’s a massive testament to guys like Kevin who have put in massive, massive amount of work to make improvements to their game,” said Connolly.
“That is testament to the culture, too, within the group.”
