DUBLIN’S THREE-TIME All-Ireland winning defender James McCarthy is back fit and available for selection for next Saturday’s quarter-final showdown with Donegal.
Manager Jim Gavin confirmed at a press conference this morning that the Ballymun Kickhams club man is available after missing the Leinster final win over Westmeath due to a quad injury.
“Yeah, he is available for selection. Obviously he hasn’t played for a few weeks, like, an inter-county game, but he is very experienced player and it is good to have him back.
“He has been a very important player over the last few years. He has been excellent in that half-back line. Defensively, first and foremost, he has been very strong and obviously he gives us attacking options as well.
“But he is one of a number of players that is in that back division that are playing well. Everybody who has taken to the field to represent the county in that back division has done extremely well. We are lucky to have cover in that area.”
Gavin praised McCarthy’s attitude after suffering the setback of injury.
“He pretty much didn’t blink. That would be James really. He took it on the chin and he applied himself to get back.
“He has met all, probably was a bit ahead, of all his goals so it is just great to have him back on grass last week which is great news.”
The Dublin manger is conscious of the risk of playing McCarthy after his spell on the sidelines.
“Well I think any payer coming back for their first game there is always that threat. Now it has been managed well and when player feels he is good to go and the medical team agrees with that consensus, that’s what I’ll take.
“I’ve never put any player under pressure to get back, the medical team is there, it is the players choice, once they feel they are 100 per cent we will go with that”.”
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