No need to go into the symantecs of it, we all know the craic
Assuming he is fit and ready, would you start him?
Be interested to see the consensus
By everyone's reckoning this is one of the top 3 players in the country, in most peoples eyes, the best.
Can any team afford to leave him on the bench for 50 minutes?

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 24/08/2017 09:27:03    2037015

I'd start him,it'd be a risk taking him on for 20 mins for me,could take him 20 mins just to get into the game! don't see why they wouldn't start him if fit and ready to go!

achara (Monaghan) - Posts: 562 - 24/08/2017 11:05:51    2037057

Is this not the second thread on the exact same subject??

I wouldn't start him. Bring him in with 20/25 min to go, lift the crowd etc.

Have him well warned not to react to 'the bumping welcome' he'll receive. Though having him well warned may not make any difference. He'll be rolling on the ground with his marker and probably get a yellow straigh away. A good bet with Paddy Power that one, Connolly tobe yellow carded within 2 minutes of entering the fray.

KK1926 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 175 - 24/08/2017 11:13:33    2037060

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 24/08/2017 11:19:18    2037061

I'd bring him on just after half time. If he starts, and is bound to be rusty, drops a few balls, kicks a few wides etc, then psychologically it gives Tyrone a boost. But if he comes on, the crowd's reaction and the boost he would give to the other Dublin players would be fantastic. Gavin seems to prefer finishing games with a stronger team than he started with so I'd expect more of the same this weekend. It's not like yez are short of options in fairness!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 24/08/2017 11:21:02    2037062

No.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 24/08/2017 11:25:14    2037067

No brainer for me he starts he's central to everything Dublin have been doing for the last six or seven years

dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 24/08/2017 11:30:06    2037069

I'd throw him in from the go, im sure he's hardly that far off the pace from Dublin training sessions, especially with Dublin hardly having to break sweat since his ban. He'd be raring to go and will be gunning for this match.
Looking forward to seeing the great man back in action again.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1909 - 24/08/2017 11:41:40    2037074

I would leave him on the bench at the start and by the game the game finishes I hope he will be still on the bench too!!!!

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 24/08/2017 11:43:02    2037075

No;
And I personally think Gavin will prob start the team that lined out against Monaghan and when Dublin are 4-5 points up in the 60th odd minute as expect them to be, he'll spring Connolly from the bench. The physiological boost he will add form the bench could be phenomenal. If he starts him and things don't go well for him and Gavin ends up taking him off; it would be huge physiological boost to Tyrone.

theblackcard (Mayo) - Posts: 47 - 24/08/2017 11:44:12    2037077

No I wouldn't start or bring him on if Dublin were narrowly ahead. If you were into the second half and a few behind I'd go with him.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 24/08/2017 11:44:59    2037078

You love a good Connolly thread don't you Liam!

I'd leave him on the bench until the last 20 mins. Tyrone will target him like all teams do. Its clear he takes the bait and in a game that could come down to inches and centimetres its a risk with too high a price to pay.

Its not as though Dublin have struggled without him. They have proved that the team is greater than any individual while he's been suspended. That said, if the game is in the balance with 20 mins to go he's not a bad roll of the dice. So an impact sub for me.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 24/08/2017 11:46:38    2037079

Yes - I think Dublin will need to kick long range scores v Tyrone and Connolly is probably the best in the business at this.

razor425 (Roscommon) - Posts: 45 - 24/08/2017 11:56:41    2037087

There is a lot to be said for MDMA, Brogan and Connolly as impact subs alright!

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 24/08/2017 12:00:36    2037089

I'd start him, don't see how it makes any sense leaving one of the best players of his generation sitting on the bench,
he's not the best in Ireland though, we have him here in Tir Chonaill.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2748 - 24/08/2017 12:08:52    2037094

No and I doubt he will start. I'd love to see him being played at full forward too if he did come on or even if he did start. As good as he is I always felt Dublin could find a way of getting even more out of him. He went in there for 2 mins last year against Mayo and they panicked.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 24/08/2017 12:12:46    2037097

KK1926 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 175 - 24/08/2017 12:18:02    2037101

I'd start on him if I got the chance ;-)

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 24/08/2017 12:24:37    2037104

I don't think Tyrone will be expecting him to start, so purely for the surprise element maybe Dublin will start him.

If it was me, I'd have him up and visibly warming up around the 40th minute mark ready to go shortly after.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 24/08/2017 12:31:30    2037111

Cant imagine the Dublin training sessions being any less intense than their Championship games to date

If he's good mentally, then I'd start him - Put your best foot forward. Go at it hard from the off.

Really looking forward to this game - it will be a cracker

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 24/08/2017 12:34:31    2037113