RAY COSGROVE HAS hailed the growing maturity of Dublin attacking star Diarmuid Connolly and believes the match officials need to ‘get a grip’ on the trend of players being targeted for provocation in GAA.
Ex-Dublin player Cosgrove is in no doubt that Connolly is being targeted but would like to see him ‘turn a blind eye’ to the close attention he receives.
Connolly was shown a red card in last Saturday’s quarter-final win over Donegal while he was in the spotlight due to a tussle in the Leinster final after Westmeath player James Dolan had ruffled his hair.
“There is absolutely no doubt, I was watching it. Dermo is getting additional treatment. He is being provoked but Dermo is not the first and he certainly won’t be the last guy that will be targeted.
“It’s easy for me to sit here and say he shouldn’t be getting involved in tussles and little fracas’ with guys but it is something that I would love to see him turn a blind eye to, run away from the tussle.
“It is something that umpires and linesmen are going to have to get a grip of. It’s an aspect of his game that he’s going to have to work on because Dermot sitting up in the stand, not being on Croke Park, is not where he wants to be.”
Cosgrove believes in a wider sense that forwards in Gaelic football are more frequently the victims of provocation.
“It is not too often that a forward is trying to drag a defender to the ground. We are normally the ones looking for space to get on the ball and kick it over the bar.
“He should be bringing the attention to the linesman and saying, ‘listen, you can see him pulling out of me’. I’m always going to favour the forwards but as far as I’m concerned it’s usually the defender, nine times out of 10, that’s getting a hold of you stopping you from making a run. They’re usually the protagonists.”
The Kilmacud Crokes club man believes Connolly is better at coping with the close attentions of defenders.
“In the past, Dermo would have seen a little bit of red mist descending. But I think he’s matured massively over the last couple of years. I definitely think he has matured because he is such a genius. The two points he kicked, off his left and right, they were a joy to watch.
“Peter Crowley will probably be in his shorts the next day. If they get over Kerry then himself and Lee (Keegan) will probably get up close and personal again. The referee is going to obviously have to watch it.
“I’d prefer to see him have a laugh at a fella and get away and run into a bit of space because I want to see him playing, I want to see him on the pitch, I want to see the magic that he can create. So do 80,000 paying spectators. The best players in the country you want on the field.”
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