AFTER A DISAPPOINTING end to his 2014 inter-county season, Dublin footballer Michael Darragh MacCauley has expressed his frustration with the thumb injury that saw his miss his club’s Dublin SFC campaign.
However, last year’s footballer of the year admits he has been relatively lucky with injuries this year and and is looking forward to bouncing back with both Ballyboden and Dublin in 2015.
“I definitely would have liked to be contesting the club championship, it would have been nice to go on a run with Ballyboden.” Opel Ambassador Michael Darragh Macauley said ahead of the GAA/GPA Opel All-Stars last Friday.
“But the recovery is all going to plan and I had the pins taken out now so I’m back on the road. It was just one of those unfortunate things. In the grand scheme of things though, I’ve been very lucky with injuries and I don’t think I missed a game in the league or championship this year through injury.
“The good thing is that I was able to keep fit and run, etc, so it won’t have an impact on preseason training and that.”
While many people have told him he should enjoy some well earned time off, the two-time Allstar says that he can find it frustrating, especially as he could only watch on as county team-mate Diarmuid Connolly (1-6) and St Vincent’s eased past Ballyboden in the Dublin SFC semi-final last weekend.
“I don’t think anybody likes taking it easy at this level, you just want to play as much as you can, especially when there’s a place in the county final on the line but no, I suppose it’s about keeping in shape and I’m just raring to go next year.”
Training and playing alongside him all year means MacAuley was not surprised by Connolly’s performance last Saturday and is delighted his efforts for his county have been rewarded with a first Allstar.
“Diarmuid’s talent has been immense. Everyone knows he’s an exceptional player. If he keeps playing that brand of football – and we were on the other side last weekend – there’s even more recognition to come his way.
“I didn’t know Paul [Flynn] was the first player outside of Kerry to win four Allstars in a row but it’s brilliant and all four have been very derserved, same for James [McCarthy] winning his first too.
“It’s a nice silver lining for the lads who put in huge amounts of work, you’d never disregard that even in a year you don’t win the All-Ireland.”
As for the Dublin SFC final on Monday, MacAuley feels that it’s a clash of a club that have been there, done that and one that is finally living up to its potential.
“It’s going to be a serious game. People have been talking about the potential of this Plunketts team for some time but there seems to be something different about it this year.
“St Vincent’s have been there and done it all and achieved their potential but I know that Plunketts will have every reason to to believe they can win.
“I think the final shows that the club scene in Dublin in general is in a very good place. Theres’s a good few country lads coming in and playing ball now and, over the last few years, the lads who have won in Dublin have done well in Leinster and the All-Ireland.
“It’s a very difficult place to get out of but it can only be good for the game in Dublin to have it so competitive and you even look at a club like Castleknock who have been cleaning up for years at underage level even though they’re relatively new and now they’ve just won the intermediate title.
“They got their structures right, focused on building the club the right way and they’re definitely one to watch.”
While MacAuley is no fan of the current structure that he feels punishes players who succeed with their club and colleges, especially if they do well at inter-county level too, he does believe the proposed move to completing all club games in the same calendar year can only be positive.
“I think it will be a good thing. The calendar definitely needs to be addressed. It’s frustrating for everyone with the season going on too long and players getting burned out which means that if you are successful you can find it impossible to stay fit.”
However, despite that, the 28-year old still feels the winner of Monday’s game will be in with a real shout of claiming All-Ireland glory and any thoughts of fixture congestion will be soon put to bed.
But who does he think will claim the title?
“I know it’s a cliché but I have to say that it’s going to be close but I think St Vincent’s will win it because they’re still very, very strong and last week we felt their wrath first hand.
“They don’t look like they’ve lost any of their hunger to me.”
