Bastick has learned his lesson and ready to move on

DENIS BASTICK admits he had to clean up his act to become a first-team regular for Dublin.

The Templeogue/Synge Street man’s story is one of defiance after being pushed into the juniors following a 2008 league and O’Byrne Cup campaign with the seniors which saw him sent off twice.

Three years previous, he was one of the Dublin players dismissed in the “Battle of Omagh” Division 1 game against Tyrone.

Paul Caffrey offered him plenty of chances but it was only in 2009 at the age of 27 that he made his senior championship debut.

Although he was red carded against Wexford in last year’s Leinster quarter-final, he’s cut down on rash tackles and become a driving force in the Dublin midfield, as exemplified by winning his battle against Tyrone’s Seán Cavanagh in the quarter-final.

“Yeah, I think maybe I was a bit naive at times,” he conceded.

“I did get opportunities under him (Caffrey) and I don’t think I took them or gave myself a good enough chance at that stage so things have looked up since then.”

Bastick, now 30, may have curbed some of his impulsive tendencies but he was in combative form defending a strong line of questioning from journalists.

On the subject of the semi-final against Donegal, he was asked if it was the kind of game that was difficult to get into.

“It was and then the likes of you guys, reporters, give you six out of 10 (rating) and you’re trying to get into a game. It’s very hard.”

He was just as bold when queried would he have believed it if someone told him Dublin would be facing Kerry two years after the 17-point hammering in 2009.

“No one said that, you didn’t say it, did you?”

Full-back then, midfielder now.

Bastick obviously wants to move on.