#ThingsDiarmuidDid.
However much love and affection Gaels outside the capital withhold from Diarmuid Connolly, no-one denies him his talent. No-one in their right minds anyway.
He changed the game on Sunday and that’s the crux of it.
Mayo were completely dominating Dublin. They were far too intense. They looked better-drilled and they even looked fitter. Jim Gavin sprang Diarmuid Connolly from the bench and the pendulum swung instantly and dramatically.
He was a calming influence in the middle third. He was an outlet. He was a battering ram absorbing the shock of Mayo’s savage and sophisticated defensive systems and holding onto the ball until the tide had turned and his team mates had found better footing.
Every time he popped it off, he called for relaxation. We’re good at football, for God’s sake, quit panicking. Every time he looked up, it was dangerous.
Everything he did just dripped with class and assurance.
Can we all just take a moment…
So, whilst Diarmuid Connolly might only have two All-Stars throughout a career that has definitely warranted more, he’ll go down in Dublin folklore regardless.
They’ll tell stories about the top of his laces and they’ll name children after passes he’s produced.
But even with all his ability and accolades, Connolly is the ultimate team player on the pitch and that’s why he’ll sleep well in the knowledge that he’s helping his county scale heights that were once thought impossible.
Sunday’s stunning second half display from the St. Vincent’s man got the champions over the line for a third time in a row and it meant that Connolly himself got his hands on Sam for a fifth time.
Not that he was able to keep count though. Chatting with Paul Flynn after the game, the half forward seems to think it was only his fourth success – good job Flynner was there to keep him right.
I'd prefer this video where Connolly can't remember how many All Irelands he's won pic.twitter.com/WgqdZhTxcU
— Ciaran (@ciaran_howard) September 20, 2017
Imagine winning that many All-Irelands that you’ve actually lost count.
Just in case he needs further reminding, the triumphs came in:
- 2011
- 2013
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
Before Sunday, Connolly and Cluxton were the only two players to have played every minute of Dublin’s four All-Ireland final success to date. He only got 35 minutes for this one but, Christ, it was an influential 35 minutes.
