Super-sub McManamon content with life on bench
McManamon has been sprung from the bench in all bar one of Dublin’s championship games this summer, his imprint hugely visible in the county’s penultimate round win over Kerry.
Indeed, the St Judes man has developed the impact substitution role into a fine art, landing a decisive point late on in the 2011 semi-final against Donegal, before delivering a crucial goal six minutes from time.
“Everyone wants to play, but with this Dublin team you know that Jim has been consistent from the beginning, that he will use five subs. That keeps you focused that you are still likely to have a job to do,” he said on hill16.ie.
“It’s not all about the 15 who start, the rest of the panel are challenged to push them and also raise it a level when the five subs come in.
“Jim means what he says when he calls it a squad. I think the proof of that is the manner in which guys have come into the team and slotted in seamlessly. You saw Bryan Cullen start against Cork and Paddy Andrews start against Kerry and they slotted straight in.
“Similarly Denis Bastick has come into midfield when needed and made an impact as has Dean Rock up front and the team’s performance has never dipped. To me that proves the drive by the second team in training is working.”
Recalling his latest raid on the Kingdom goal, McManamon was quick to laud the contribution of Michael Dara Macauley in profiting from a breaking ball between Kerry pair Marc Ó Sé and David Moran.
“It was a special feeling to come on and get a goal against Kerry again. It was a huge result for the team and I know I am very lucky that I have played Kerry five times in my Dublin career and have beaten them four times.
“It’s always nice to get a goal in Croke Park and especially in front of Hill 16. I aimed for the crossbar and was delighted to see it nestle in the net, but I’d give all of the credit to Macauley who put his body on the line to win a ball he had no right to get to.”
McManamon has been operating in the sky blue since 2010, but had his father not uprooted to the Capital he could well be donning the green and red this Sunday.
“My dad’s family are from a place near Newport called Tiernaur – half way between Castlebar and Achill and I have always spent time down there and have great friends and family in Mayo.
“I was down there earlier this summer and I know too well what a passionate football county Mayo is. Their display against Donegal in the quarter-final is still the most impressive 70 minute display we have seen this summer in the championship.
“Mayo have always been the type of team who could beat anyone on their day, but they have raised that under James Horan. They have beaten the reigning All-Ireland champions in each of the last three years which says it all about their consistency and their ability.
“Jim Gavin’s mantra all year, however, has been to focus in on ourselves and what we do.
“As the clock ticks down that’s what we will do to get ourselves ready for hopefully a big performance.”
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