Macauley relishing Dublin role

“We’re all good footballers,” is a line a Dublin player would be reluctant to utter in bygone seasons for fear of being interpreted as big-headed.

Not any more. Not when the walk has been walked. Michael Darragh Macauley has no problem in saying the phrase. Were it not true, the expansive game-plan Jim Gavin has would not work.

A Division 1 title isn’t sufficient proof that it is operating but it’s an indication Dublin are relating to what the manager is preaching.

“Every manager is going to have his own structure,” says Macauley. “Jim is no different. We are told to express ourselves.

“We’re all good footballers. We have a serious panel of footballers. He wants lads to express themselves and I think that’s important.”

On the matter of Dublin’s style, Gavin has spoken of the variety of systems he wants to implement but Macauley has played down their significance.

“I don’t know how much game-plans come into it, to be honest. Every manager is going to set out his stall on how he wants to play.

“Once the ref blows that whistle, a lot of it comes down to who wants it more. Lads have game-plans in the back of their head but you have to play a bit of football and one thing Jim has told us is to express ourselves as footballers.

“I think that’s important. You don’t get caught up in game-plans or else you forget how to play football. It’s very important lads do express themselves playing football and do a job.”

Neither is Macauley overly concerned about the high concession of scores Dublin shipped during their successful Division 1 campaign — though they are aware of it.

“When you’re winning matches, the concern isn’t going to be as big, to be honest. It’s something that we are going to look at. You can’t be looking at teams like Tyrone tot up big numbers against us. We conceded a few goals along the way too. We’re definitely going to have to look at it. Hopefully, we’ve learned our lesson and we don’t end up out on our arse. We’ll look at all those things and address what needs be.”

Prior to Christmas, Paul Flynn spoke of the frightening level of talent coming up through the Dublin ranks and, like Macauley, it’s a refreshing departure for players to speak their minds.

Yet Macauley concedes he was unsure of whether he was part of Gavin’s plans in those early days. Eamonn Fennell and Ross McConnell were axed. Was he for the chopping block too?

“It’s amazing. I didn’t know where I stood under Jim. I didn’t know if he was a fan at all of what I do. I think everyone’s got a chance to prove themselves under Jim.

“A lot of league games, friendly games and in-house games as well — that’s where you have to set down your worth. A lot of lads have staked claims. Lads have gone out and proved themselves in Croke Park in league games.

“They’ve been doing well in training and have earned those spots. He’s picking lads on form and it’s paying off.”

Macauley had a head-melting start to the league when he was sent off against Kerry, missing a game as a result, and he found it difficult to find form, having worked hard to come back from injury in the off-season. “I’d really planned hitting the ground running this year so I found it frustrating more than anything,” he says

With the madness of March and four games in as many weeks, he rediscovered his groove. “I feel psychologically a lot better. I feel a lot freer. I’m really looking forward to a big Championship campaign.”

Stephen Cluxton captains Westmeath on Saturday, six days after another free-taking, 45-kicking goalkeeper Niall Morgan blew up against Donegal.

Macauley hasn’t heard any of the criticism of the amount of time goalkeepers are taking prior to shooting.

“You have your best free-taker take the kick. Simple as that. If every goalkeeper can kick them as well as Stephen and your man off Tyrone, fair play. Maybe other counties’ goalkeepers can’t kick them as well as those lads and that’s why they’re complaining.”