BACK in the Jim Gavin era, Dublin didn’t so much finish opposing teams off as bludgeon them with the power of their bench.
Their squad depth was arguably at its most impressive in 2017 when substitutes returned a mind boggling 3-23 across just six Championship games.
In that season’s final defeat of Mayo, Gavin brought on Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly, Kevin McManamon, Bernard Brogan, Niall Scully and Cormac Costello. Six of the county’s greatest ever performers.
The following year, former Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh Macauley came on and scored a point in the 2018 final defeat of Tyrone.
In fact, in all but one of Dublin’s eight All-Ireland final wins since the start of their glory era a dozen years ago – the 2019 win over Kerry – substitutes have chipped in with at least one point.
Alan Brogan’s solitary point in the 2015 decider, for instance, was crucial, as was the trio of scores Costello pinched in the following year’s final replay win over Mayo.
McManamon’s goal in the 2011 decider after coming on remains a ‘Where were you when?’ moment and he did something similar again in 2013 at the semi-final stage against the same opposition.
Kerry have been consistently caught out then by Dublin’s bench press and all the indicators are that the Sky Blues hold a vital edge in this regard again for Sunday’s final rematch.
Depending on what team boss Dessie Farrell names, there is the possibility of him being able to call upon Ciaran Kilkenny, Jack McCaffrey and Dean Rock as subs, just as he did against Monaghan in the semi-final.
Kerry, meanwhile, already struggling in terms of bench options, were rocked this week by a fresh injury which will apparently rule Tony Brosnan, further diminishing their options.
“I think our bench is huge this year,” said former midfielder Macauley, an ambassador for Championship sponsors Allianz.
“And I think the team is going to feed off that so much. When you look at those names coming off the bench, it’s going to give a huge bit of energy to the lads playing.
“It’s not that they’re coming to keep things at the same level, it’s to bring it to a whole new level. The options that we have this year give us that.
“Kerry are going to be scared seeing Jack and (Paul) Mannion and CK and maybe some of these lads coming off the bench. That’s not who you want to see from an opposition point of view, coming off the bench, and I think that could be huge for us this Sunday. I think it’s the biggest difference we’ve had over the last couple of years, our depth, and I think it will be vital.”
Farrell used 51 different players in all competitions last year and so far this year has handed competitive game time to 56 players since the start of the O’Byrne Cup.
To underline just how experimental he has been at times, only one player, Colm Basquel, has played in all 18 of those games.
And just two players - Lee Gannon and Brian Fenton - have started all of their National League and Championship games.
For Macauley, who partnered Fenton in the 2019 drawn All-Ireland final against Kerry, his old colleague remains a central performer. Farrell has a decision to make about who he partners up with Fenton this time though Macauley reckons it’ll be a Fenton-Brian Howard axis, as it was for the Monaghan game.
“The Raheny massive!” smiled Macauley, referencing the club colleagues. “It’s funny, Brian Howard hasn’t played a whole lot at midfield next to Brian Fenton. He plays half-back, he plays half-forward, he plays all over the pitch really. And he’s not a big lad either but he gets up and can compete with anyone in the country.
“I think everyone has seen that. He’s a ball player as well. He’s not just a brute in there trying to break stuff up. He’s going to make things happen for you from an attacking point of view as well. It’s an exciting combination. I think those two lads are going to be hard to stop.”
McCarthy has also partnered Fenton this summer but Macauley would prefer to see the team captain at wing-back.
“I think James’ best position is half-back, I don’t think too many can argue with that,” he said. “When he comes on and brings that kind of pace onto the ball and he’s not back-tracking, that’s where you want James. I’d be surprised if you don’t see him in the half-back line.”
Meanwhile, Macauley has pleaded with the GAA to get creative and to bring more colour and profile to All-Ireland final day.
“I’ve said it before and I don’t really want to get into this again but why aren’t U2 playing (at half-time?)” said eight-time All-Ireland winner Macauley. “People were laughing but why aren’t they? It should be an exhibition of how special Ireland is.”
