Ger Brennan: Dubs will learn from Donegal mistakes

Ger Brennan has backed Dublin to learn from the mistakes of last summer against Donegal and ensure they’re never overrun so easily again.

The experienced defender, currently closing in on back to back All-Ireland Club titles with St Vincent’s, is hoping to return to Dublin duty in spring.

His commanding presence in the number six jersey was sorely missed last August due to injury and he looked on as Dublin were pulled apart by a rampaging Donegal in the second half of their All-Ireland semi-final.

Ultimately, Dublin were blitzed and though they’ve started 2015 well by reaching Sunday’s O’Byrne Cup final, redemption is a long way off.

Brennan is confident they won’t repeat the same mistakes and that manager Jim Gavin is clever enough to adapt his tactics if they face a challenge like Donegal again.

“You would have to evolve,” said Brennan. “What I learned from 2011, after winning the All-Ireland with Pat Gilroy, was that what we did then wouldn’t be good enough in 2012. That turned out to be the case.

“I think players and managers now are educated and intelligent and are able to identify ways of stopping a team’s stronger points. So I think if a team is to do the same thing over and over, they eventually get found out.

“You have to continue to add strings to your bow and I think Dublin will do that.”

Unfortunately for Brennan, he doesn’t know exactly when he will play for Dublin again. He missed all of 2014 with Dublin due to club commitments and injury.

And the way things are shaping up for all conquering Vincent’s, it could be late March before he’s back available for county duty again.

In the meantime, Gavin has been grooming a new man for the position, former underage star John Small of Ballymun Kickhams, who has started all of Dublin’s O’Byrne Cup matches this season.

“I’ve been very impressed by John, he’s a really tough guy, works really hard and is an up and coming player,” said Brennan.

“He’s proving his worth at present and the fact that he’s started every game is testament to the performances he’s putting in.

“It doesn’t bother me. I don’t own any position or jersey. It’s whoever is in the best shape going into a game, the manager has to pick them. I’ve never become attached to things like that. I’ve always just tried to get the best out of myself and if I’m in the team, I’m in the team. I don’t focus on other guys that way.”

Brennan accepted missing another sizeable chunk of the season due to club commitments doesn’t help his inter-county career. He acknowledged it’s even more difficult for young club colleagues trying to break into the Dublin panel. “At present, there’d be four or five Vincent’s guys who would be looking to have played in these O’Byrne Cup games and early season training sessions, to try and prove themselves,” he added.

“They are obviously going to miss out. That just creates an even bigger challenge for them to get a game in the national league campaign because there’s obviously more at stake in those matches."