Dublin star Cian O’Sullivan reckons people don’t realise what a ‘key figure’ and influential leader Diarmuid Connolly was within their group.
Connolly, 33, caused surprise last week by quitting the Dubs just weeks before they return to activity.
The six-time All-Ireland winner featured in the last four games of Dublin’s successful 2019 campaign, though didn’t play at all under new boss Dessie Farrell.
Experienced defender O’Sullivan said: “I don’t need to tell anyone how great a footballer he was, that’s plain to see for everyone. What people didn’t see and what probably went unnoticed was his leadership within the dressing-room and the group.
“He was a key figure in establishing this group’s identity. That’s something he has left there in the changing room and something that will live on even though he has gone from the team.”
Like Connolly, O’Sullivan didn’t play in the League earlier this year and he sat out last year’s drawn All-Ireland final, coming on as a late sub in the replay win.
Until the drawn final O’Sullivan was one of only three players to have lined out in each of Dublin’s All-Ireland final appearances throughout the decade.
Some may have expected the 32-year-old to follow the likes of Eoghan O’Gara and Bernard Brogan into retirement but O’Sullivan never considered it.
The Kilmacud Crokes man said: “It’s not something that ever dropped into my head. I think when that time comes it will be very obvious.
“Once the club finishes I just want to hang up my boots for a month or two and consider it, that’s what I’ve done in the last couple of seasons. When the time came around again, when I got the call from Dessie Farrell to go training again, there wasn’t a second thought from me.”
