Eamon McGee believes Diarmuid Connolly’s return would make Dublin virtual certainties to complete the five-in-a-row.
As it is, the former Donegal defender reckons Jim Gavin’s side are very likely to make history without the 31-year-old, who hasn’t lined out for the county in more than a year and as yet hasn’t taken up an invitation to rejoin the panel.
And with Dublin having already started their campaign with a rout of Louth last Saturday, McGee doesn’t envisage the St Vincent’s man returning now. He said: “If you’re doing percentages, it is probably at 80 or 85% [that Dublin will win the All-Ireland].
“Last year, or the year before, it would have been 90 or 95%. They have dropped off, based on League results and based on performances.
“You can only go on what you see so far and there has been a drop-off, but even going on the drop-off, they are still a wee bit ahead of what is there at the minute.
“We have seen Mayo and people talking about Mayo as the team to beat them, and I don’t know where Mayo are at now.
“If they get the right draw, they will still do a lot of damage, and Dublin will not want to see them but probably it is between Tyrone and Galway.”
On the Connolly dilemma, McGee added: “For him to bring Diarmuid Connolly in at this stage, people within the squad might think he doesn’t trust them.
“I would love to see Diarmuid Connolly, just as a footballer, it is the same as watching Corofin.
“He is brilliant to watch, but I don’t see him coming back.
“But if he did come back, you would put that right up there at 95% again that Dublin would win the All-Ireland.
“The only glimmer of hope is history and history is against them. It is hard to go against history, this five in a row hasn’t been done for a reason, that’s the only positive thing but they are just so far out in front, I don’t know.”
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