Cormac Costello has said that Pat Gilroy will be a hands-on coach in his new role with Dublin footballers.
It was confirmed last month that the 2011 All-Ireland winning manager would be returning to the set up under current boss Dessie Farrell though there was some mystery over just what his role would be, with Gilroy recognised more as a strategist than a coaching guru.
But, with the team having recently regrouped ahead of the 2023 season, Dubs attacker Costello confirmed that he’ll be in the thick of things on the training pitch - an area where players apparently felt that there had been a fall-off in expertise since Jim Gavin and his regime moved on three years ago.
Costello said: “He’s coming in in a coaching capacity, to help the guys out as an extra pair of hands and his experience, his CV speaks for itself.
“He has a wealth of experience as a manager for Dublin, the hurlers and the footballers, and as well as that in his professional career but he’s coming in in a coaching capacity to join the coaching staff.”
Also returning are Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey to the playing ranks and while this development has been universally welcomed in Dublin football circles, Costello could be forgiven for being slightly less enthusiastic.
Not so much in the case of McCaffrey, who he will not be in direct competition with for a starting place, but Mannion.
The Kilmacud Crokes’ attacker’s last appearance for the county was in the 2020 All-Ireland final win over Mayo and though Costello followed him off the bench that day, he has started each of the nine Championship games that Dublin have played since.
It’s by far his best run in the team since joining the panel for the 2013 season fresh out of minor but, while Mannion may have wound up in the impact sub role that Costello was all too familiar with in 2020, the reality is that he kept him out of the team more than most over the years.
“I always thought that they might come back,” says Costello, despite widespread resignation that they’d played their last for the county.
“I’d be very close to the two boys and they took the few years out to focus on their careers and their personal life. I always thought it was a possibility but I’m just delighted that they are back.
“On a personal level as well, I’d be very close to the lads like I said so even just to have them in the dressing room, it’s a great lift.”
It’s put to Costello that Mannion’s return may be somewhat unfortunate for him after he has finally attained a regular starting spot but he shrugs: “It’s the same as every year. We have competition there every single year.
“Last year we had young lads stepping up, Lorcan O’Dell, made a big impact on our team last year, Lee Gannon, but it just adds to that competition and you know yourself, you need that competition in a group.
“It’s not just the 15 that play. That’s what makes a team, is that competition so it’s only going to make sure that you knuckle down even more and all you can focus on is yourself and working hard.
“If you take the foot off the gas someone’s going to take that jersey off you so it’s about focusing on yourself, same as every year.”
Regardless of the presence of Mannion or other blue-chip forwards over the years, Costello insists that he never lost confidence in his ability to break into the side.
“No, I think I always had faith. I always felt if I got a run and stayed fit, I always believed in my own ability, so I had faith in myself.”
He adds: “Look at any sport, you want to play. You want to be on the pitch. That’s what you train for. But, I know it’s a cliché, but it is all about the team. You don’t care who played, who scored, if the cup is there at the end of the year.”
Still, with neither of the returnees having played for Dublin since 2020, and McCaffrey without a Championship appearance since 2019, Costello spoke of having to “manage expectations”.
“They’ve been away, especially Jack, he’s been away from competitive football for a few years now and he still is quality like but it’s going to take a few weeks and maybe a couple of months for him to get back to the pitch.
“But obviously from an experience point of view, having them in the dressing room and what they’ve both achieved through Dublin as a team and individually, you can’t buy that experience so it’s great to have them in the set up but, as I said, I’m sure it’s going to take a couple of weeks or months and then Paul obviously with his [ankle] injury, but I think he’s progressing well and looking forward to it.”
With Mannion and McCaffrey returning, Costello’s Whitehall Colmcilles clubmate Eoghan O’Donnell passes them on the way out having thrown his lot back in with the county hurlers after a brief call-up from Dessie Farrell last summer, with him even making an appearance in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Cork.
It’s very much the footballers’ loss, says Costello, who rates O’Donnell’s ability in the big ball code very highly.
“I rate Eoghan very highly in football. I’ve played with Eoghan at club level all the way up so I would have seen him more than most.
“I think he’s someone who, whatever sport he went into, Eoghan would put his best foot forward and I think he could be a big player. If he went as a sprinter I feel Eoghan would be brilliant, he’s one of those all-round athletes.
“I feel like whatever he’d put his mind to, he’d be successful so I’ve no doubt that he’d be successful.
“But he’s captain of the hurlers - he was captain last year. He’s a big, big player for them. He’s one of the best in the country.”
Might he be tempted to play for the county footballers again?
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask him. I’d love if he did.”
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