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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Stephen Cluxton 'a distraction for Dublin' as fans divided over legend's return

Lee Keegan believes Stephen Cluxton's return to the Dublin panel could be a "distraction" for the Boys in Blue.

The goalkeeper stunned GAA fans up and down the country by returning to Dessie Farrell's side after 27 months away for their win over Louth on Sunday, which secured their promotion back to Division 1.

But former Mayo star Keegan believes it could be a distraction for the Dubs.

READ MORE: Mickey Harte on Stephen Cluxton's second coming: 'He's the master of goalkeeping'

He said on RTE's The Sunday Game: “Maybe we’re looking at it from a different angle, but it seems like a bit of a distraction for Dublin.

“Listen, it’s a great story, it’s great to see Stephen Cluxton back. Greatest ‘keeper we’ve ever witnessed, one of the best players we’ve ever witnessed. But if this was under the Jim Gavin era, would this have come out? Would this have been a distraction?

“I just feel like with Jack McCaffrey, we’ve only seen him against Cork. We don’t know what’s going on with him – is he injured, is he going to be playing more frequently? Great to see [Paul] Mannion back today, but it just feels like there’s a couple of distractions with Dublin and these kind of stories, we don’t associate with them too often.

“I think today is the most Cluxton moment we’ve ever seen, just slots back into the Dublin panel like he was never out of it.”

Many Dublin fans took to social media to welcome Cluxton back to the squad, with one writing: "Absolutely thrilled. Can’t believe it."

Another added: "Jesus! Stephen Cluxton! I had to watch it 5 times to have it sink in. Glad to see him tog out. I was very unhappy with the way it had seemed to end for him."

Someone else said: "Welcome Back Stephen. Such a brilliant sight to see him running out."

But not all fans were delighted to see the 41-year-old's name among the substitutes on Sunday.

One stated: "Dublin have been underwhelming in the League. Ironically, young Na Fianna keeper David O'Hanlon has been one of their best performers - you could argue he's been their Player of the League. So, how much does #StephenCluxton's return actually, materially improve the Dubs?"

Another added: "Dessie Farrell is getting desperate if he's bringing back 41 year old Stephen Cluxton to the Dublin panel."

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