All-action O’Gara may be kept in reserve

Eoghan O’Gara dismissed the suggestion that he may be struggling with a toe injury, but the sight of him at a press conference yesterday was enough to suspect he may not make the first XV for this Sunday’s Allianz Division 1 decider.

Such has been the way of things this year, with those Dublin players served up to the media invariably being those carrying knocks of one kind or another. And then there is O’Gara’s all-action style.

The Templeogue Synge Street forward seems purpose-built for an impact off the bench, providing a migraine-in-waiting for defenders already frazzled by 40 or 50 minutes of work.

Not that it has all been electric. A tally of 3-5 has been pocketed in his six starts and two appearances as a replacement so far. Four times he has been held scoreless and his standout efforts have again come as part of the second wave.

Whatever his role against Derry this weekend, O’Gara is already in credit when compared to past campaigns. Minutes logged are well up and his input against Mayo and Cork – both times as a sub — has elevated him to a more prominent status.

“Yeah, it’s the most game time I have got in a league since I started playing with Dublin [in 2010 because of] injuries, and suspension one year. I am really enjoying my football and enjoying the amount of game time the manager has given me.”

His rawness when he first burst onto the scene didn’t appeal to all but O’Gara has since pocketed three Leinster medals, two All-Irelands and a league title despite the riches Dublin have been able to call on.

Even the integration of younger men such as Ciarán Kilkenny and Cormac Costello into the squad and, at times, the starting side, have failed to edge the rangy former Sigerson Cup winner with DCU out of the picture.

“There are probably 12 forwards,” he said of the competition for places. “There’s at least two for every position for us all over the park, but particularly in the forwards, and it is frightening competition.

“You’re waiting to be picked and if you are not picked you are getting yourself right to come and make an impact from the line if called upon. So the competition is unbelievable.”

And so to Derry, the one side to comprehensively outplay them in the league thus far. Six points separated them that day in Celtic Park but Dublin have shown since – against Mayo and Cork – that hefty deficits need not be the death of them.

“There is great character and belief in the team,” said O’Gara. “In the last number of years, since we won our last All-Ireland, that’s something we have had and produced. We produced it in a few games towards the end of the league when the chips were down. It gives us great confidence. We go right to the end of a game.”