Opinion: Cunningham has key to Dublin potential
By Peter McNamara
It was ironic that both Paul Ryan and David ‘Dotsy’ O’Callaghan were deemed surplus to requirements by Ger Cunningham when he named his starting line-up to meet Kilkenny in Nowlan Park last Sunday afternoon.
Its unintentional symbolism should not be lost on folk of the capital as the Leesider continues to reconfigure Dublin from the productive days of Anthony Daly’s leadership.
Team reconfiguration has been the hallmark of Cunningham’s tenure thus far, illustrated perfectly by the fact Ryan and O’Callaghan were not needed from the off against the All-Ireland champions on Noreside.
The irony and symbolism attached to that duo dates back to Saturday, June 29, 2013 and the Leinster semi-final replay at Portlaoise in front of 10,532 souls.
The aforementioned date, of course, represented a defining occasion in the lifecycle of this particular group of players.
That evening, Dublin, with Ryan, scorer of 0-8 (0-6 frees), and O’Callaghan, contributor of 0-5 (0-1 free), overthrew provincial kingpins Kilkenny 1-16 to 0-16 to reach the Leinster decider.
It was a watershed moment for the Metropolitans as it rubber stamped the view from within the confines of their own group that living, breathing and thriving in the same space as the most deadly shark in the waters was indeed within their compass.
What has transpired in terms of the fortunes of Dublin since up until Cunningham stepped in to the breach this year is history well-documented.
Now, it seems, Cunningham may have located the key to unlocking the true potential of the collective, potential that has been particularly evident following Dublin’s top-tier league success of 2011.
The repositioning of key personnel such as Peter Kelly to centre-back and Conal Keaney to wing-back, complemented by the utilisation of Chris Crummey, whose performances in the Allianz NHL Division 1A have been extremely efficient, on the opposite wing has provided Dublin with an explosive launchpad in a critical sector of the field.
Obviously, the influence of Michael Carton at full-back and Liam Rushe’s redeployment to full-forward has generated the majority of the analysis around the country.
Furthermore, Danny Sutcliffe’s performances have been exemplary and the St Jude’s clubman provides goalkeeper Alan Nolan with a trusted focal point for puck-outs.
Still, these are the obvious references that everybody is making.
However, it could be genuinely argued the importance of that aforementioned half-back line trio, as a unit, has been underappreciated.
Kelly, in particular, has the caught the eye as the linchpin of that line and he could be on the verge of a career-defining year.
His ability to foresee how certain plays will develop, coupled with a wonderful positional sense, has enabled him to perform almost like a quarterback.
Of course, and Cunningham has understandably said this himself, it is too early in the season to guarantee the standard of output they have reached lately will be maintained.
However, I think it will.
Yes, Dublin have had a far less interrupted run than other counties that have been suffering from the unavailability of players due to the Fitzgibbon Cup and injuries.
Still, building momentum at a steady rate from the first quarter of the year nowadays can be hugely beneficial.
Dublin have registered 3-65 from their matches against Galway (Walsh Cup final), Tipperary and Kilkenny and confidence throughout their camp is absolutely sky-high.
Another major plus for the Boys in Blue is that the resources at Cunningham’s and the players’ disposal are second to none.
The platform has been in place for Dublin to make the leap into the Promised Land.
Now, though, Cunningham has the team grid balanced and firing.
