John Fogarty: Stephen Cluxton is only back for one thing

If the stories are true, it was the commotion caused by the illegal training session in Innisfails almost two years ago to the day that prompted him to step aside

INTERESTED SPECTATOR: Dublin substitute Stephen Cluxton watches the second half of Sunday’s Allianz League Division 2 match against Louth at Croke Park. Cluxton’s return to the inter-county came as a huge surprise. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Any other sport, any other prized athlete to be more precise, there would have been fanfare. The marketing people would have insisted, it being a Dublin home league game in Croke Park, even if it was a Division 2 game.

The return of a six-time champion captain from a two-season hiatus would have been cause for a pitch introduction on his own. Maybe a belt of Damien Dempsey’s ‘Patience’ over the PA as he emerged from the Hogan Stand tunnel. Stephen Cluxton, back to keep his eye on his goal.