Fill in the space:
‘There have been __ changes to the Dublin team.’
Jim Gavin has gone with the same side to face Mayo in the All-Ireland for now but not many are convinced that it will stay that way come the 5pm throw-in.
The champions are aiming to be the second county to achieve back-to-back titles in the last 26 years but a performance like we saw in the drawn game two weeks ago won’t cut it this time round.
The starting 15 against Mayo in the All-Ireland Football Final replay tomorrow at 5:00pm in Croke Park #DUBvMAYO #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/ckW8UIzpEa
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) September 30, 2016
The form of Bernard Brogan and Paul Flynn was questioned coming into the weekend. Dean Rock wasn’t his usual self the first day out and Kevin McManamon was also rumoured to be the fall-guy again just because it was expected that Jim Gavin would change something. Anything.
Paul Galvin doesn’t see it that way though.
When he looks at Brogan and Flynn, he sees legends. He sees fine footballers and he sees men who are being vastly undervalued. Write them off at your peril.
So whether they start or not, whether they come in for more criticism or not, the Kerry man is expecting big things from the pair. Big players make big plays in big games.
“I think you’ll see a big game from him [Flynn] the next day,” Galvin told SportsJOE’s GAA Hour podcast.
“I wouldn’t like to be listening to the kind of talk I’ve been listening to if I’m Paul Flynn – or Bernard Brogan, by the way.
“They’ve been two of the best players. I’m not predicting anything but I’d be leaving those two boys there anyway.”
There’s poking the bear, then there’s suggesting that Brogan and Flynn should be dropped.
Grab your popcorn, folks.
Who will win, Mayo or Dublin? Wooly, Paul Galvin and Conán Doherty preview Saturday’s All-Ireland final replay.
