Curran returning to fitness ahead of schedule
Curran, who won an All-Ireland medal with the captial in 1995, damaged his ankle 10 days ago, but is returning to fitness ahead of schedule and is set to quickly resume full work with the squad by the weekend.
The news is also positive regarding manager Tommy Lyons, who is expected to have recovered fully in time for the replay from his stomach complaints, which necessiated an overnight stay in the Blackrock Clinic. Selector Dave Billings revealed that the players were informed of Lyons’ absence on the evening before the game when the panel met for their customary pre-match get together.
“There was no point in letting them find out about it from anyone else’” the UCD man said. “Had we lost, it would have been because Tommy wasn’t there and had we won it would have been because we were playing for Tommy that’s how it is.” While accepting that Lyons’ absence from the fray was a blow, Billings also pointed out that there was till a healthy management structure in place to oversee the game.
“Tommy is the talisman of our group of four selectors. He’s the public face, but we have three other people there and it was up to us to take on the job on Monday.
We all sit in the stand about ten or twelve rows back for every game where we are allowed a good view of what goes on and it was a question of getting someone down on the line where Tommy usually is for the weekend.” As for the game itself, Billings was keen to cut through the hype and various permutations surrounding the replays venue and focus on what Dublin must take from a tie that could have won, almost lost and ended up drawing.
“The reality is that had we lost by a point people would have been calling us useless and had we won by a point we would now be world beaters. The fact that it was a draw means people will look at it a bit more rationally and allow us to sit down and really examine the game for how it was.”
Mickey Moran feels likewise. “We had chances,” the Donegal boss admitted. “Brendan’s (Devenney) shot went just the wrong side of the post, then we had another in the second half, someone got in the way. That happens, they got a couple of breaks for their goals - Eamonn (Doherty, full-back) says he got a wee bit of a push for their first goal and they got inside, the second could have been a killer, giving away the ball, but thank God, we had enough in the tank.
But we’re delighted to get another chance, we live to fight another day. A lot of work to do, lot of things to work on yet, but I’m sure Dublin will be doing the same thing, they’re a very professional outfit. I want to wish Tommy (Lyons) a speedy recovery, I’m not one of those people who’s happy to see the other side down one of their best players, I like to play the opposition at their best. I hope Tommy is there the next day, that we can pit our wits against each other. It’s nil-nil again now.”
