Dunne prepared for impact

THE impact sub — when and where did that term originate?

Was it with Liverpool’s David Fairclough in the 1970s, seven goals in 14 league appearances during his debut season of 1975-76, nine of those appearances as substitute, helping the Pool to the title (yes kids, Liverpool used to win league titles).

Whatever, it’s part of the sporting lexicon now, and a label that Tipperary’s Benny Dunne, formerly an integral part of the starting 15, has been slowly coming to terms with for the past few seasons.

“The statistics show I haven’t started a championship game since 2008, and that’s three years ago,” he acknowledged as Tipperary prepare for Sunday’s Munster SHC final with Waterford.

“With the modern game the five substitutes that come in, in championship in particular, are as important as the 15 guys starting.

“The intensity of the game is gone through the roof, in my opinion. To last 70 minutes in that kind of intensity in key areas is asking an awful lot. The guys that are asked to come on, their job is as important as the guys that are starting. That’s the nature of the game.”

To say he seems resigned to the role now wouldn’t be fair as Dunne harbours hopes of again getting a starting berth.

“I’d never close the book on starting a championship game. Any inter-county player’s ambition is to start championship games.”

Benny, however, is a realist; as he said, the idea of “pacing yourself” is gone out the window in the modern game, replaced by full-on effort for every minute you are on the pitch.

In such circumstances, often the difference between winning and losing will be the strength of the bench — and back to the role of the impact sub.

“I’d love to say I’ll be starting in the Munster final, but it’s unlikely,” he said, “so I’ll train my mind to hopefully make an impact when I do get in there.”

“Train my mind” — isn’t that revealing? Doesn’t that tell you so much about guys like Benny Dunne. Personal ambition is placed to one side, all the focus is on the team and what you can contribute if and when you’re called upon. And, crucially, they can be game-changers. And match-winners.

“You have to train your mind to that,” he repeated. “That you are going to be in there, and when you get in there you need to make an impact and finish the job off if we’re in front or if we’re behind, to win that ball, or to get that score that turns the game.

“But the way it’s gone. Whether it’s football or hurling, every team has shown that it’s the strength that’s in your squad that makes your team as good as they are.”

On the sideline too, a guy can detach himself from what’s happening on the field, can observe, see the whole field, see the weaknesses that can be exploited in the opposition.

“Absolutely,” he agreed. “Our trainer, Cian O’Neill, is always adamant on that. When you’re on the bench, you can study the game for the first 10 minutes and know what’s going on in the position you’re likely to come on in.

“You know where the weaknesses are, and know who is playing in that position and what the movement is like. I think that’s a strength in itself, that you can spot that and try to make an impact when you get in.”

Such intelligent opinion and analysis is a family trait. After an acclaimed playing career, older brother Tommy has made waves in coaching and now is a key man in Declan Ryan’s backroom team.

Asked about Tommy’s influence on this team, on the changeover from the highly regarded Eamonn O’Shea, who had coached Tipp to an All-Ireland title last year, Benny takes the question head-on.

“He’s a big change from Eamonn — they both have their own styles and I think that’s good. He’s doing a good job and I know a lot of this panel were minor winners in 2007 and 2008 when he was the coach.

“He coached our club last year so I got a feel for his coaching techniques. He’s very, very good but a contrasting style with Eamonn. That’s not a bad thing — in fact I’d say it’s a good thing. He gets a good reaction from the lads; he pushes them hard but that’s always good.”

And his own relationship with the brother?

“You all know Tommy Dunne, he’s a straight-down-the-line guy. What you see is what you get, and he’s tough but he’s fair. We talk in camp when we need to talk and that is the same with all the other players. Outside of that, it’s just your own family stuff.

“He was a pure hurler, a good leader on the field and also a very honest player when he was playing. I think he’s brought all of those traits into his coaching. He has his badges and all that, he’s well qualified to do what he’s doing and he’s getting a great reaction from all of the boys.

“He’s doing well for us, and he’s putting his stamp on our play this year, as he did I think with the Tipp U21s and the minors that won the All-Ireland before that.”