Diarmuid Connolly says “lucky” Dublin could struggle in Saturday’s night’s top of the table Division 2 encounter with “irresistible” Derry at Celtic Park.
The former Dublin star is hopeful Dessie Farrell has been keeping his big guns fresh for the weekend trip to Derry City to face Rory Gallagher’s “goal machine.”
Dublin, Derry and Cavan (Division 3) are the only sides across the four divisions with full points after four rounds.
Something has to give here, with the winner in pole position to win promotion to Division 1.
If Dublin win on Saturday night and move on to 10 points they’re all but guaranteed to go up, by virtue of head to head victories over Cork and Derry.
Derry will know that a win at the weekend and a victory over Clare in Round 6 at home will ensure promotion, after missing out narrowly last year.
The Banner though were six points up on Dublin last weekend at Croke Park, before losing out to a last gasp Cormac Costello point, so they are no pushovers.
“Dublin have been very lucky,” Connolly told Boylesports.
“I was at the game against Clare on Saturday night and it took the senior lads to come off the bench and get them over the line.
“They’re scraping over the line in a lot of the games, but they still have a couple of big names to come back into the squad.
“I’m hoping they can be kept in cotton wool for the trip to Derry, because that is not going to be easy.
“Derry are a goal machine. They’re irresistible. They’re running hard lines. Their tackling is unbelievable.
“Whatever system they play, they’re able to pull it out of the bag.
“It was a convincing win against Kildare and it could have been by 20 points really, so it’ll be tough for Dublin to go up there and get a result.”
Meanwhile, Connolly says “unmarkable” Matthew Tierney is filling the void left in the Galway side by the absence of Shane Walsh and Damien Comer.
Tierney starred with 1-4 in the draw with Donegal at Letterkenny over the weekend, while he was also man of the match in the win over Tyrone the week before.
“Matthew Tierney is leading that Galway team at the minute without Shane Walsh and Damien Comer,” said Connolly.
“He got 1-4 from wing forward and when Donegal scored the penalty, with the next play he wins the ball, runs the pitch on his own, a one-two and then a great finish for the goal.
“He’s unmarkable at the minute and his was a standout performance from the whole weekend.
“Patrick McBrearty is a big loss for Donegal. He is their captain and leader and they have struggled without him.
“There were a couple of good performances from Michael Langan and Jason McGee, but they are struggling and they are deservedly at the bottom of the league with Tyrone.”
Elsewhere, Connolly says Aidan O’Shea was “unbelievable” at full forward in Mayo’s weekend victory over Tyrone at Castlebar.
“He (O’Shea) came out for a pass into James Carr for his goal and that was the play of the match for me,” said Connolly.
“Enda Hession came on a couple of times against us in the past and his pace is so effective.
“He ran through on goal and dummied the keeper to stick one away in the second half and for an inside defender to do that exuded the confidence in this Mayo side.
“Tyrone weren’t at the races, but the width and the kick-passing in this Mayo team and their hard running to get in behind the lines, is unbelievable.
“It was a first home win in a while against Tyrone which is strange, but goals win games and the four from Mayo were decisive.”
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