Former Tyrone hitman Owen Mulligan believes that Dublin need Diarmuid Connolly back - but doubts whether Jim Gavin will recall the mercurial attacker.
He also rubbished any suggestion that the Connolly dilemma isn’t costing Gavin a thought, saying, “Does he think we’re all muppets?”
St Vincent's man Connolly hasn’t played for Dublin since February of last year and subsequently spent the summer in Boston lining out for the Donegal club.
He has returned to action for his club, however, and with Dublin having just endured their worst League campaign under Gavin, calls for the 31-year-old’s return have grown louder and will likely intensify if he performs well in upcoming club games.
Mulligan told Paddy Power News: “Dublin are showing signs of tiredness. The desire to do five-in-a-row will be there, but is the hunger still there?
“They need Diarmuid Connolly back playing in sky blue, but I’m not convinced that he fits into Jim Gavin’s plans.
“The Dubs need to be working harder than they’ve ever done before if they don’t want to be caught out by Mayo, Kerry or Tyrone.
“Mickey Harte will be analysing every aspect of that game [Sunday’s Mayo-Kerry League final]. Jim Gavin would have you believe that he was out walking on a beach somewhere.
“He’d be telling you that Diarmuid Connolly, Mayo, Kerry or anyone else are not on his mind.
“Does he think we’re all muppets?
“There’s not a chance that he won’t be fully aware of what went on in Croke Park on Sunday. There will be no five-in-a-row unless he was,” Mulligan said.
Meanwhile, on the back of their League success on Sunday, the former Tyrone star expects Mayo to “destroy” opposition in the closing stages of games this summer.
“Mayo got a taste of what it’s like to kill off a top-four team in Croke Park – when it mattered – on Sunday. They had an opportunity to really hurt Kerry late on.
“However, when there’s silverware on the line it’s easy to see why they concentrated on game management – even if it did nearly cost them at the end.
“Now that they’ve landed a national title, I see no reason why Mayo can’t push on and destroy a big team in the final quarter of games.
“When you’ve got a player in the type of for that Diarmuid O’Connor is in, then anything is possible for Mayo.
“O’Connor has stepped up and now we need to see if he can consistently deliver when he’s needed the most.
“Mayo can’t go on depending on the brilliant Andy Moran to pull them through tight games, so other lads need to step up.”
Mulligan added that Kerry boss Peter Keane will be quietly pleased at the lesson dished out to his young players on Sunday.
“Kerry players got thrown around the place on Sunday and secretly their manager Peter Keane will be more than happy about that.
“They were getting things far too handy in the League this year, Sean O’Shea and Dara Moynihan were destroying teams. Sunday gave him a taste of what’s to come in the big Championship games this summer.
“They need to man up quickly in the physicality stakes.
“Handling that is as much a mental thing as it is physical. It might take another year or two for some of the Kingdom’s panel to get themselves into that frame of mind.”
