INJURY STRUGGLES HAVE robbed Dublin of Ger Brennan since their 2013 All-Ireland final win and last week the defensive lynchpin admitted defeat in his battle to get back fit in 2015, opting to take a break from the inter-county game.
Philly McMahon is well-placed to judge what Brennan has to offer, having operated in the line behind him in Dublin’s rearguard.
“He’s a leader on the pitch and he’s a leader off the pitch. So he is a loss.
“I’m not sure in terms of medically, where he’s at. But he’s decided to take a little break, get back to the club and he’ll be back at the start of next year.”
Talker
“Ger was a great talker on the pitch. A great organiser as well. It’s something that every player around has to try and do a little bit more of, especially the way the game is going.
“Especially for me, I’m big into coaching so I love seeing the game change. So having players around having to up their game and be a little bit better, it has to be good for the game in general.”
McMahon is confident Dublin have the replacements to cope. Cian O’Sullivan is currently in possession of the number six jersey while John Small played plenty football there during the league.
“They (Cian and John) are very similar in my eyes, to be honest,” outlines McMahon.
“That’s why Jim has looked at both of them there. They’re both very strong and athletic.
Smart
“They’re good footballers and they know the game. They’re smart footballers. It’s good to have to players with such quality fighting for the one position.”
Small’s rise is interesting. After bursting to prominence at U21 and senior level with Dublin in 2012, his career hit a lull. It took another U21 success last year to help revive him and force his way back into the plans of Jim Gavin.
“He’s got a great attitude and he’s got great hunger,” says McMahon, a clubmate of Small’s at Ballymun Kickhams.
“He got a little bit of a taste of inter-county football years ago and then all of a sudden it was taken from him.
He was back with the club. Had a little bit of a dip. But that’s what made him into where he is today and what he is today.
“You’ve only seen little glimpses of him but I’m sure, when he gets the opportunity, you’ll see the real ability he has.”
