O’Gara: Dubs have ‘massive room for improvement’
Powerful O’Gara, 25, notched vital goals in his debut season against Louth and Tyrone to help guide new look Dublin to the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Pat Gilroy’s team gave a strong account of themselves in the last four where they were narrowly undone by the guile and experience of Cork.
Despite pushing the eventual champions to within one point in that game, O’Gara rejected the suggestion that Dublin have closed the gap between them and the top teams.
Rather, the former All-Ireland junior medallist claimed there is still ‘massive room for improvement’ on Dublin’s part.
“To be honest, we came very close this year but I still think there is a gap between us and the top two or three teams in the country,” said O’Gara.
“I still believe that. In my opinion, we should have got over the line this year and we didn’t but I still think there’s massive room for improvement if we want to go to that next level.
“An All-Ireland final is that for us, without even thinking of winning it, just getting to the last two. We got to the last four this year and nearly stood up to the plate in the semis.
“I definitely think there’s a gap between us and that top level. If we can bridge it then I don’t think we’ll be waiting too long for an All-Ireland title. We have to bridge that gap though.”
As for his own game, O’Gara, a strong and direct running forward, knows he can do better. He’s aware of the jibes that he’s ‘raw’ and that his kicking is unreliable; claims that arose after some spectacular wides in the championship.
But he’s got strong assets too, like his aerial ability which makes him the perfect foil for Bernard Brogan and has earned comparisons to Kerry’s target man Kieran Donaghy.
Asked if he models himself on Donaghy, O’Gara said: “No, not in the slightest, people have said that to me. They reckon I’m similar to him. But I don’t model myself on anyone.
“I just try to do what I’m good at, get the ball, go at people and at the same time always try to improve things like my weak side, even my strong side, kicking scores and my decision making. But I’d never look at another player and say I want to be like him.”
O’Gara was speaking at the launch of tonight’s ‘Reeling in the 80s’ night at the Dandelion Cafe Bar in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
Meanwhile, Armagh manager Paddy O’Rourke has omitted two experienced players from his panel for 2011.
Enda McNulty and Martin O’Rourke have not been invited back into the Orchard set-up. Paul Kernan and Barry Shannon have also been left out by the former Down star.
Elsewhere, Offaly hurling received an early blow for 2011 last night with the news that long serving players Ger Oakley and Brian Mullins have retired from the intercounty game.
Oakley, 32, has been a mainstay on the team since he emerged on the scene in 1996 and in that time, the Carrig & Riverstown clubman has won an All-Ireland in 1998 as well as Division two league medals in 2005 and ‘09, captaining the team for the latter.
Mullins has been the first choice net-minder for the best part of a decade where he also won NHL medals in 2005 and ‘09 and collected three All-Ireland club medals with Birr. He is the holder of 10 Offaly SHC medals.
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