Paddy Andrews – the unsung hero.
It’s not about him. It’s not about getting on the scoreboard, it’s not about the headlines the next day, for Paddy Andrews it’s all about the team.
In a Dublin forward line full of standout superstars, Andrews is the quiet one. He constantly offers himself up for his teammates to prosper, he sacrifices himself so that all around him can flow smoothly.
The best thing about Andrews is that consistency isn’t even a question with him. It’s the same performance, it’s the same service, it’s the same selflessness every single day with him.
On top of being this selfless team player, the St. Brigid’s club man is one of Dublin’s most prolific shooters. Rarely does he hit a wide, and he will knock over two, three, four and sometimes even five points every game.
The 29-year-old delivered a typically honest and impressive performance against Tyrone on Sunday, and he came up for discussion during Monday’s GAA Hour Show.
Colm Parkinson is a big fan of the man, who in 2011, was reportedly on the verge of signing for League of Ireland first division side Monaghan United, until he choose Gaelic ahead of soccer.
“Paddy Andrews is the most underrated player in the country. The only reason Paddy Andrews isn’t the story of this Dublin team is there is so much brilliance around him,
“If Paddy Andrews was a forward in any other county, any other county, bar-none, he’d be the marquee forward. He’d be their most consistent forward.
“If he was on the Mayo team, he’d be their main man.
“He’s the ultimate team player is Paddy Andrews. He has no problem saying ‘look I’m your sidekick, I’ll make runs for you, I’ll make you look good, and all the time while he does that, and does everything for his team, he’ll still score points from play,” said Parkinson.
One of the most amazing things about Andrews is that when he initially broke onto the Dublin scene, he was utilised by then manager Pat Gilroy as a corner back.
Now he’s one of the sharpest shooters in the game.
“This is a fella who played corner back under Pat Gilroy. Think about that, for a corner back to be as accurate as he is,” added the Laois man.
Andrews started corner back in 2009, a year in which Dublin were blitzed by Kerry and he was given a run-around by Colm Cooper. A lesser man would have given up, would have thrown in the towel. Not Paddy Andrews.
Former Meath sharpshooter is also impressed by Andrews, and sees huge similarities between his style, and that of the current favourite for Footballer of the Year, Andy Moran.
“I really think that without him playing, the Dublin forward line wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is.
“He plays like Andy Moran in terms of his clever movement. He has really short steps in his stride, he’s really good on the turn and he’s able to get shots away fast.
“He doesn’t do anything spectacular, everything he does is very functional, it’s by the book. He has an ability to get scores under pressure, and in fairness to him, he has done it, more-often-than-not, when the game is in the melting pot,” continued the Meath man.
He might not be the first name that Mayo fans are fearing, but they certainly should be fearing him.
Andrews was nominated for AIB Performance of the Weekend, and you can listen to the lads’ discussion here from one hour 20 min.
