Dummy teams are a fool’s errand, says Fitzmaurice

Eamonn Fitzmaurice doesn’t agree with the practice of naming dummy teams ahead of big games because he feels it’s unfair on players.

“Every manager is entitled to do what he wants to gain that edge,” Fitzmaurice said.

“What I would say is, quoting the example of Kieran Donaghy, I felt it would be very unfair if we named him in the team, if the team came out on a Thursday night and then for Friday and Saturday he was trying to avoid everyone.

“I just think it puts the player who is losing out in an awkward situation so from that point of view I wouldn’t be a fan of it. My philosophy is name your team and get on with it, put it out there and away you go.

“There are times during the league when you are going to have knocks and there will be changes. Even in championship that can happen, but I’m not sure there is a margin to be gained. Usually you get the team half an hour before throw in anyway. If you get the team five minutes before throw in that’s time enough for a management. You have factored things in anyway unless they pull some fella completely out of the sky.”

Fitzmaurice pointed to the challenges of modern management, admitting that he and his selectors should have managed their substitutions in the Munster final win over Cork better.

“We should have made substitutions earlier, knowing fellas would tire in the conditions and so on. We only put on four (subs) when we should have put on five. When you’ve a very competitive panel, everyone wants action. If you waste a substitution then there’s one more guy going away from the squad disappointed he got no action.

“Some teams have their substitutions planned — everyone figured out that Donegal were making their substitutions at certain times, to lift the tempo of the game, and if you look at rugby you can see sometimes changes are made not when a player’s form is dipping, but to keep up standards. We’re learning all the time as well — every match, every training session you’d try to soak stuff up. We’re not the finished article.”

The manager acknowledged the error later to his squad.

“I did, I said it to the lads the following week. Nobody’s perfect, everyone mistakes and there’s an element of trust in the squad. They’re training every night and there’s no point trying to bluff them.”

The Finuge clubman, speaking prior to being paired with Cavan on Sunday, thinks last year’s All-Ireland champions will still have a big say this season despite their defeat in the Ulster championship final.

“I think Donegal have done very well this year to come through a tough game against Tyrone, they were well and truly tested against Down also.

“People have said Donegal are finished but I think the opposite. A shock to the system like that will hurt them badly and will refocus them. When you’re All-Ireland champions there’s a greater focus on you, you’re on television more, your style of play is known. When Kieran Donaghy went to full-forward in 2006 that was in vogue for a while and every club and county team was trying it. Likewise with Donegal, they’ve been analysed to the nth degree.”