Diary of a Dub
The
King is not dead, long life the King…
Seems, the chatter is rising. Anticipation is building. Only one thing on every Dubliners mind this week and its neither McGregor or Pints. It’s Dermo. A long awaited return beckons after 12 weeks of isolation. Seems only fair to devote an entire Diary to the King of the Hill. Too much to say to squeeze it into a paragraph and do him or it justice.
Dublin have moved on through the rounds Dermoless, and in moving on, life or Dublin performances for that matter, have not been the same. Results have been delivered, progress achieved, the team have learned to play without him but not learned to play with the swagger they have with him. And just like Ross & Rachel in Friends, Dermo and the Dubs get back with each other this weekend, with timimg that is pretty close to perfection, an All-Ireland Semi—Final…
He will be talked about in days to come, the team sheet
seems to be the hot topic, will he start or won’t he? Is he fit, how has he
trained? Is he an asset or a liability to this Dublin team? Questions that will
all be answered now and in the coming days.
We have had the honour
of Dermo in a Dublin jersey for over 10 years now.11 Leinster titles, 4
All-Ireland’s, 4 National Leagues are among his roll of honour. We’ve seen some
incredible performances, we’ve seen ‘his moments’ and we’ve seen only a few
ordinary games in that time. Idolized by the Dublin Fans, and despised in equal
quarters outside the pale.
But what is it about
him, and more importantly, what does he bring to this team?
It’s very simple to be
honest. This is, without a doubt, the most gifted Footballer to ever grace a
Dublin Jersey. Natural talent in abundance. Plays with his head-up. Very few
can do it, whilst exercising ball control, and taking a hit or two. A turn of
pace. Kicks with both feet, and scores both the ordinary and extra-ordinary,
making both look effortless. He is a footballing genius and every kid who
dreams of playing at the highest level, should watch his skill and his
footballing style. He’s strong, he takes hits, he’s hard to get the ball from,
and no doubt a nightmare to play against. He’s not a one-man-band though.
Always plays for the team, never selfish, he sets up more than he scores, and
his work rate off the ball is astonishing from defence to attack.
That said, he has a
side to him. If he was a criminal, he would be ‘Known to Gardai’…he is, on the
pitch, most definitely ‘Known to officials’. Carries a big reputation, he has
previous, and he is targeted every game, sledged, goaded, hit, call it what you
want. All great players carry this burden. Dermo is no different, and this is
not a whinge. It’s part of our game. Opponents will seek to exploit any
perceived weakness in Dublin and our Dermo has a hit on his head, game-in,
game-out. Sometimes he can handle it, sometimes he can’t. The GAA PC
Doo-gooders would have you say he should be above it, he is a beacon to our
youth, an example to follow….but the guy is Human, and everyone has their
breaking point. This doesn’t justify it or condone it, however it merely seeks
to make sense of it.
He is to Dublin, as
Eric Cantona was to Manchester United. The analogy is perfect. Both were
untouchable for their footballing ability, both with a streak, and both falling
fowl of officialdom now and again.
As for Sunday, only Jim
will know what the plan is for Dermo. I’m sure it’s already worked out, has
been for weeks. If it was me. I would start him. Listen for all the Ex-Tyrone
players say that he shouldn’t start, he is a liability. They don’t want him on
the field at all, they know what he brings to this Dublin team and how much
harder a task it is for Tyrone with him out there on the field. He takes
marking, he brings a different dynamic to Dublin in attack. He brings
intensity. Don’t think for a minute he hasn’t spent the last 12 weeks waiting
thinking of and waiting to get his moment again. He has nothing to prove to
Dublin fans, but I guarantee you, he will feel he owes it to his team mates and
himself to make footballing amends.
Every team has a Dermo. I played on a team with a guy just
like him, great footballer, nightmare for opponents and always only a tackle
away from a red card. No matter how many times, he got into trouble, we always
wanted him playing. His ability out-weighed his misdemeanors. He played for the
team, he gave for the team, he would scold us if we weren’t trying hard enough,
he would tell any player who scored or helped him score, that they were
incredible. He would go into battle for us, ok, sometimes he started the
battle, and we went in for him, but you get the point. He was a brother in band
of brothers. That year we won the league and went to an All-Ireland Quarter final.
I can imagine, our Dermo is no different, a brother in the Dublin Band of
Brothers, and ready to do what it takes. Think back to how Jim defended him and
attacked the Sunday Game and you will find all the clues you need as to how his
brothers feel about him and what he means to them.
So start him. We are undoubtedly a better team with, than
without him.
Can’t write this without mentioning his detractors. His
haters. In itself, it is very easily to explain. Wasn’t Cantona despised by
everyone except Manchester United fans? Yes. And why? Because they didn’t have a Cantona, and 31 counties don’t have a
Dermo, in fact nothing that even comes close. So don’t pay any attention to the
uninformed, the biased, partisan views from outside our county. Those who know
the game, appreciate the talent for what it is…footballing genius, and he’s our footballing genius. Those
who are without, wish only for something that they will never have.
For now, it only remains to say this…
It has been an honour to be there watch the most gifted
footballer I have ever seen put on a Dublin Jersey and give his all for this
team. You have done your time, you have nothing to prove. But come Sunday, be
your footballing self, and show the GAA world just what we have been missing
for the last 12 weeks. In the meantime…..
The King is not dead, long live the King…
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