“He’s an aggressive full back that would solve that problem, for sure.”
That was the ringing endorsement, by Dublin legend, of Rory O’Carroll on The GAA Hour, earlier this month.
O’Carroll returned from a spell abroad, in March, and is back playing his club football with Kilmacud Crokes. The fullback has three All-Ireland winners’ medals to his name already but it was not known whether Dublin boss Jim Gavin would bring him back to the inter-county fold.
During his appearance on The GAA Hour, Brogan told host Colm Parkinson:
“[O’Carroll returning] is certainly an option for Jim. I obviously know Rory well but he’s one of these guys who can nearly take it or leave it. When I played football for Dublin, I was completely obsessed by it but he wins a couple of All-Irelands and then disappears for three years, like it was no bother at all…”
“He looks in good shape. Have Dublin a problem in the full back line? There’s talk that they do. He’s an aggressive full back that would solve that problem for sure – the only thing is whether he’s interested in coming back or not… It’s just one part of his life..”
Form and commitment count for a lot, under Gavin, and word from Crokes was that O’Carroll has pushed in his chips. He is back making an impact on the club scene and Gavin, wisely, will bring him in to train with the All-Ireland champs as they train for a campaign that could end with a five-in-a-row in late August.
A report by Colm Keys in The Irish Independent states that O’Carroll is back in with the Dublin senior panel. He is said to have partaken in a gym session with the panel, on Monday night, and will be back out on the training pitch for the month of May as the Dubs prepare for a Leinster SFC.
Rory O’Carroll, left, and Philip McMahon celebrate at the final whistle of the 2015 All-Ireland. (Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE)O’Carroll kept his eye in, with Gaelic football, by playing the sport while he was living and working in New Zealand.
Although the standard would be much lower than the inter-county scene, New Zealand GAA does have a fair dollop of players with club and county (minor and senior) experience.
Imagine going to New Zealand to enjoy yourself and running into Rory O'Carroll… literally 😱 pic.twitter.com/c3llqmfVqW
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 5, 2019
Rory O’Carroll has played for Crokes against Na Fianna and Ballymun Kickhams – keeping tight and unforgiving on the likes of Conor McHugh and Dean Rock – and his performances got many, including former Kerry captain Paul Galvin, talking.
Keys reports that O’Carroll let the Dublin management team know he was keen on returning over the weekend.
The 29-year-old two-time All Star would definitely bolster Dublin’s hopes for a 29th Sam Maguire and what would potentially be their fifth in a row. O’Carroll started that winning streak in his final game for Dublin, the 2015 triumph over Kerry.
