Dublin simply "engaged in the process" when getting Diarmuid Connolly cleared to play ahead of this evening's All-Ireland semi-final victory over Mayo. Connolly's presence on the field certainly wasn't the difference between winning and losing the replay, although it was the first question put to Dublin manager Jim Gavin following their seven-point win.
“We just engaged in the process,” said Gavin, clearly not warming to the line of questioning. “It’s there for us, and there for any team to use, and that’s what we did. We took advice from the administrators and the Dublin county board, and they supported us all the way.
“We respect it, and that’s what we did. And I can’t say any more than that.”
News of Connolly’s clearance only emerged in the early hours of the morning, after a hearing before the GAA’s independent arbitration tribunal, the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA). All three levels of the GAA’s disciplinary process had found that Connolly should serve a one-match suspension as a result of the red card shown in last weekend’s drawn encounter; however, the DRA identified an issue with the disciplinary process.
So, despite the late notice of clearance, Gavin had no reluctance starting Connolly, who replaced Alan Brogan on the starting 15: "No," said Gavin, again without expanding. Nor did the Dublin manager believe that Connolly's appeal process was in any way distracting.
“No, and I’d say of all the county teams, Dublin are quite used to a lot of external stuff going on. So they’re quite accustomed to those external distractions, and are quite good at getting into that performance bubble, and blocking it out. So we actually enjoyed this week, had good fun getting ready for this game, and I think the way they played showed that.”
Yet Connolly was present for large part of the DRA hearing, which began at 7.30 on Friday night, and finished about 2.30 in the morning.
“He was there for a good part of the process, yeah,” explained Gavin. “I thought they were very facilitating. Obviously time was pressing, coming up to the game. But anyone we engaged with in the process made themselves available, for late hours. And we can only be grateful for that.”
Then, in the last question on the matter, Gavin was asked if the GAA’s entire disciplinary process had been undermined by the events of the past week: “Well the process is there, for players, to use it, if they feel they need to use it. I can’t comment any more than that.”
As the game itself - during which Connolly didn’t score, incidentally - Gavin pointed towards Dublin’s character as being one of the differences, compared to last Sunday’s draw.
“Yeah, I think the boys showed great heart, and desire, and character. We knew it was going to be a very difficult game, and it transpired that way. But the boys stuck to the process, and we knew if we did that we’d hopefully keep ourselves in a position to get the result.
“Mayo are a class side, and have demonstrated that for many, many years. We knew they would get opportunities, and get good scores, and it was just a matter of us maintaining our composure, and I thought we did that very well, throughout the game. We got some gaps and thankfully the boys took them.
“And last week, Mayo just played very well. The way we play, there’s a bit of risk involved, but we got the scores at the far end today. And I think both teams stepped up today, played a very good physical game. And I think both teams showed very good maturity, despite what was being said outside both camps. I don’t think it got to Mayo, and from what I could see it didn’t get to my boys either.”
And finally then, a thought on that All-Ireland final showdown against Kerry, two weeks from now: “Yeah, I haven’t seen much of them,” said Gavin. “But we know they’re a team full of stars, All-Ireland champions, but we’re looking forward to the next two weeks, being the best we can be.”
