Fitzmaurice: Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne to the fore in Dublin resurgence
Dublin may not have won Leinster, or even their All-Ireland series group, but they remain a serious proposition.
That's the view of former Kerry All-Ireland winning player and manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice, who believes a rare appearance in the preliminary quarter-final stage – against Cork on Saturday evening - will suit Dessie Farrell after getting more of his players back into the fold in recent weeks.
The Dubs snuck out of Newry with victory on Saturday evening, coming out on top against Derry in a thrilling encounter.
Dublin's bid for a 15th consecutive provincial crown came unstuck against Meath, while their defeat to All-Ireland champions Armagh in Croke Park was seen by many as further proof of the new pecking order.
Victory in Salthill, plus the gritty win against Derry last time out will offer hope to Dublin supporters that despite an inconsistent 2025, there is still plenty of hope with just a dozen sides remaining in the hunt for Sam Maguire.
Captain Con O'Callaghan returned in style against the Oak Leaf county, while Eoin Murchan was part of a Dublin panel for the first time since January. With the Small brothers – both absent earlier in the season – fully back in action, it means that only Colm Basquel is an injury concern for the visit of the Rebels to Croke Park.
"You can't ever rule Dublin out," Fitzmaurice told the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"We know they are not the team they were. Outside of maybe Armagh, who are continuing to perform to a really high level, every other team is having little blips.
"Dublin are exactly where they want to be. Normally they would go the straight route, but having the extra game this year, getting those players back, it is probably good for them."
"They're in great shape. Even as good as they were the last night (against Derry), there is more in them."
O'Callaghan's return, Ciarán Kilkenny's tour de force and the collective shooting accuracy (seven wides was a much better return than the 17 hit against Armagh) were some of the highlights against Derry, but Fitzmaurice singled out the performance of Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne as another reason for optimism.
The departure of James McCarthy and Brian Fenton from the engine room has left a sizeable void, with a number of combinations given the chance to impress over league and championship.
Ó Cofaigh Byrne and Killian McGinnis were handed the number eight and nine jerseys respectively on Saturday and played well enough to suggest they could be the immediate future of Dublin's midfield, the former pushing for player of the match, ably assisted by McGinnis who notched 0-03 in an industrious display.
Fitzmaurice believes the Cuala powerhouse is coming good at the right time for the men in blue.
"His performance in the middle of the field was huge for them," he said.
"Against Armagh – and credit to them (Armagh) they are always so well drilled – they spoiled him. Cluxton went for him a good few times in that game, but Ben Crealey was able to break the ball away from him and Armagh were picking up the breaks whereas in Newry the last night, they were winning the ball, either him indirectly or off him."
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