Canavan: Connolly may yet have final say

Peter Canavan believes Jim Gavin has had to concede an element of control for the first time as Dublin manager, due to the ongoing uncertainty over whether Diarmuid Connolly will play a role for the county this summer.

Questions over Connolly’s availability are unlikely to dissipate as long as he is away from the inter-county scene. Despite that, the Tyrone legend still believes that any manager would “be foolish to put a line through his name at this stage of the season”.

Gavin dealt with the issue last week when confirming that the player had not been available for selection of late, while adding that the door remained open. Connolly duly returned to action with St Vincent’s when coming off the bench for their hurlers in a league game.