Gilroy happy to play tinkerman role

WHEN Paul Caffrey stepped down as Dublin manager last summer, it was hard to escape the feeling he was bringing the curtain down on more than just his own career.

From the moment Caffrey took charge in November 2004, he placed his faith in a core of players that blemished their achievement in capturing four successive Leinster titles with consistent failures on the bigger stage.

A frequent criticism during the Caffrey era was that the Dublin panel was akin to a closed shop, an impression given some credence by the fact that ten of the players who started the 2005 Leinster final did likewise four seasons later.

Five of them — Paul Griffin, Collie Moran, Bryan Cullen, Barry Cahill and Jason Sherlock — had been assigned new duties by 2008 but that glass ceiling resisted all their efforts, no matter what combination they chose.

It is hard to criticise Caffrey for his persistence. They took Tyrone to a replay in 2005, threw away the semi-final against Mayo a year later and fell short by two points against Kerry two seasons ago. They were that close.

However last summer’s 12-point defeat to the eventual champions exploded the myth that they might be edging closer. Dublin are now 14 years without an All-Ireland title, their longest wait since Heffo helped bring Sam home in 1958.

The impression gained from Pat Gilroy so far suggests this is Year One all over again. Players have been drafted in and out with abandon and those playing consistently have been moved around the pitch like pieces on a chessboard.

Ross McConnell spent last season at full-back but has been parachuted into midfield this term, while Dennis Bastick has replaced him at number three after winning an All-Ireland Junior medal in 2008 in the centre of the park.

McConnell, at least, seems happy with his new digs. “I’m enjoying it. I’m delighted just to be getting my game for Dublin. It doesn’t matter what position. There is a bit more freedom out the field. You aren’t chasing lads around as much.”

Bryan Cullen has been called back to the defence after his time as a wing-forward, David Henry is again earning his keep as a defender after a lengthy stint up front and Paddy Andrews has been deployed at both ends of the pitch.

Long-time pillars like Jason Sherlock, Alan Brogan, Collie Moran, Shane Ryan and Paul Casey have all spent most of the spring on the sideline while Alan Hubbard, James Brogan, Tiernan Diamond and Blaine Kelly are some of the names to have appeared on a Dublin team-sheet for the first time. Some will sink, others will stay afloat.

And still the tinkering goes on. The introduction of three Kilmacud Crokes players for tomorrow’s meeting with Kerry has brought to 31 the number of players to have worn the county jersey under Gilroy.

The focus is on building a team for the championship but all the chopping and changing has left them vulnerable to relegation, which would hardly be the ideal platform on which to build a summer’s campaign.

Gilroy said: “From a player’s perspective, I don’t think it would affect them in any way as long as we are heading in the right direction for the summer in terms of performance.

“You can see that we are doing a huge amount of experimentation. People understand that. Morale might be a bit low for some supporters but, if we come out in the summer and play well in the first match, all those issues will go away.”

An inexperienced defence has been a worry but Gilroy has moved to buttress his rearguard with some familiar faces. The forward line is the unit that appears to be the callow one now with five of the six on view tomorrow lacking experience. One of those is Kevin Bonner who accepts the point but puts on a brave face nonetheless.

“Each player is looking to lead as much as possible. It doesn’t matter who is in there at any time.

“Conal Keaney is in there and he has a good bit of experience, the Crokes lads are back as well. Paddy (Andrews) is up there too this week. It is just all about taking the onus on yourself.”