8. The fitness of Alan Brogan
“Alan is back training. Anybody there Tuesday night would have seen him running around the field looking very spritely. He is back on track. He is not in full contact yet in the internal games but he is not far off.
“I’d be reluctant to give a set date for his return to play but it is looking promising. Like every player he needs to prove himself when coming back from injury and recovery programmes so that will be no different. The most important thing for us is to get him back onto the field of play and then when he comes back he needs to fight for his place like everybody else.
7. The introduction of Hawkeye
“I think it’s a great innovation by Croke Park. It’s very progressive. Anything that can help the officials. The umpires are under a lot of pressure but I think they’re really coming into their own this season. Their interaction with the referees has been excellent.
“But I think people need to be patient now. There will be a couple of stoppages in play as players, managers, referees and supporters all get used to it. It’d be great to see it rolled out to the big provincial grounds in the future. But it’s a good place to start it in Croke Park. Once people see the benefits of it, the provincial grounds will make a case to get it in their grounds.”
6. Having an advantage over rivals in playing games in Croke Park
“We’ve always said we’ll play wherever we have to play. In terms of Dublin playing in Croke Park, I think the average attendance for the National League is around 20k and Parnell Park only caters for 8k. The support base need to go to a ground.
“If people have issues with Dublin playing their National League games in Croke Park, they should speak to the GAA in Croke Park about that. We just need to look at the list of All-Ireland title winners over the last 20 years and we’ll see what advantage that has been to Dublin. That’s the context I’d view it in.
“Whatever about underage level, at the elite level players are so well prepared when they cross the white line and the game commences that the distraction of the crowd and whatever else, it doesn’t really affect them.”
Dublin players stand for the national anthem before the league final.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
5. Gap in standards between Division 1 teams and Division 2 teams
“The team we’re playing on Saturday evening are now to me a Division 1 team. Westmeath came through a very tough division. I think Division 2 has a different dynamic in that each team is trying to get promotion.
“Some teams in Division 1 might be just trying to keep their status. So to come through a very competitive league like Division 2 is probably a reflection of the good players that they have.”
4. Westmeath’s U21 players starting to emerge at senior level
“There are a lot of players on the Westmeath U21 side from 2010 (that Gavin managed against) that I recognise on the panel. There must be five or six of the 2012 U21 side. Both games they were very competitive, particularly the one in 2010. That game could have gone either way.
“Westmeath had a chance of a goal at one end and then Ciaran Dorney from St Vincent’s got a goal at the back end of that game. John Heslin was outstanding then and he has maintained that form. I have been very impressed with the clips I have seen of him this year.
“We talk about long-range free-taking from goalkeepers, well John Heslin is an outfield long-range free-taker. That’s a big part of his play. He is a very dominant player in midfield and he’ll be a big threat to Dublin on Saturday.”
3. Dublin jersey initiative with Pieta House
“I think it’s fantastic. A load of the players in the squad and players around the country have been touched by suicide. I think that can help make one man or women turn away and try and get out that dark cloud and if it saves one life it’s been a very good initiative by Vodafone and Pieta House.”
RTE’s Katherine Thomas and Jacqui Hurley with Dublin footballer Paul Flynn and Dublin hurler Danny Sutcliffe.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
2. Ciaran Kilkenny’s hurling commitments
“I’ve spoken to the players, Ciaran isn’t the only one with the U21′s. You also have Eric Lowndes and Cormac Costello. We’ll try and facilitate that as best we can. Their priority is Dublin senior football and there’s a round of U21 championship coming up soon. They’ve trained away with the hurlers and will continue to do so.”
1. Biting controversy involving Dublin’s Kevin O’Brien against Donegal
“We, both the team management and county board, have backed the CCCC in their deliberations and the CHC in their’s as well. Paraic Duffy has come out earlier on and said the disciplinary system in the GAA is robust and solid and we support that.
“The CHC said there wasn’t so the case is closed and we’ve moved. They said it wasn’t proven there wasn’t enough evidence. The CHC said the player wasn’t guilty so the case is closed as far as we are concerned.”
