Eric Lowndes must have been thinking, ‘what did I do to deserve this?’
Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone was a cake-walk for Dublin. Jim Gavin’s men never had to get out of first gear as they dismantled Mickey Harte’s men from the first minute to the last.
They were so-much on top that the game took on a soccer feel in the first-half, with the Dublin fans sarcastically cheering a succession of passes put together by their side, such was the lack of competitiveness, and pressure coming from Tyrone.
It was a carnival atmosphere for the Dubs, and in the 65th minute, with their number 12 about to enter the fray, a number which lead them to believe that it was Diarmuid Connolly, they went nuts.
Eric Lowndes gets the loudest cheer of the day at Croke Park when he is introduced – Diarmuid Connolly in disguise it would seem pic.twitter.com/wbUKGUVQPO
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 27, 2017
He hadn’t represented his county since that now infamous incident with linesman Ciaran Branagan in Dublin’s first Championship outing of the year against Carlow.
They hadn’t seen their beloved ‘Dermo’ in 85 days. 85 cold, long and hard days.
When they saw number 12 being readied by Jim Gavin, they immediately cheered, applauded and heralded his return.
As it turned out, number 12 was actually Eric Lowndes, and with Connolly still perched on the bench, he saw the funny side of it, though he tried his best to remain straight-faced.
Bit that lip harder Dermo, trying not to smirk 😂 pic.twitter.com/3ES0MwvDZy
— Darragh Culhane (@DarraghCulhane) August 27, 2017
Connolly eventually did make his return, and though the Dublin supporters had expanded valuable energy reserves moments beforehand, they were ready to go at it again.
Anything for Dermo.
The big question is, will he (or Eric Lowndes) start the final?
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/901843542867406848
Crowd going nuts cos they think Eric Lowndes is Diarmuid Connolly!! Haha!
— Shane Stapleton (@ShaneSaint) August 27, 2017
