James McCarthy is confident Dublin will prove they have not become a “soft touch” when Ger Brennan has a full squad available for selection this season.
The Dubs lost their opening two Division 1 league games and face a bottom-of-the-table clash against Monaghan at Croke Park on Saturday.
There has been plenty of debate over the current depth of talent within the Dublin dressingroom but McCarthy is not inclined to concur with the opinions of the doomsday brigade.
“They’re dealing with a lot of injuries at the moment, which has not helped things,” says the former Dublin captain.
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“When you’re trying to put young players in and give them game-time, it’s tough when you’re throwing five, six, seven of them in together – ideally you drop two or three guys in each time but Dublin probably haven’t had the chance to do that in the first two games.
“They’ve had to throw a lot more guys in than they probably would have wanted. I have no doubt when they get their team together, they’ll still be very competitive, no teams will think they’re easy to play against or a soft touch.”
Brennan raised plenty of eyebrows with his comments after the defeat to Mayo, suggesting some All-Ireland winning players may face being dropped from the squad. But McCarthy feels his former team-mate was mostly trying to spark a response from players.
“I’d say there’s a bit of tongue in cheek with Ger. I’d say he’s trying to rattle a few cages more than anything and trying to get a response from guys, I’d be thinking it’s more down those lines than anything,” says McCarthy.
“But again, a lot of guys have been very successful as well, you’ve got to look in the mirror at times as well [and ask] if you’re not putting the hard yards in.
“I’d say it’s just a nice subtle message to the guys through the media to wake them up a bit.”
McCarthy, one of the most decorated players in the history of the game with nine Celtic Crosses, retired at the end of the 2024 season.
And while he watched on enviously as the new rules were road tested last season, the five-time All Star still feels he stepped away at the right moment.
“You always think that (you could still be playing at that level), but it’s called being delusional,” he smiles.
“I thought I’d miss it a lot more than I have, to be honest. But then my life is so busy, I have a young fella at home and another child on the way.
“And club football is still very hectic, I just got stuck back in with Ballymun Kickhams for the last two years, getting involved coaching underage teams and stuff like that.
“That keeps you busy, I’m just happy looking on as a fan. But you do have a bit of regret, I would love to have given the new game a go with the rules and stuff, because they have kind of brought the game back to like it was in the first few years when I started off.
But despite the temptation, a Dublin return certainly isn’t on the cards: “No, that’s a closed door completely. I think for Dublin, you can’t be talking about the old lads really any more, it’s time for the new generation to kick on and try to make their stamp. It’s important I think that all those doors are closed and the team can move on.”
And though some of his former team-mates, including Dean Rock and Denis Bastick, have joined Brennan’s backroom team, such a coaching role was never a runner for McCarthy, at least not at this point.
“No, I’m happy to step away for a few years and disappear. I’d find it difficult myself personally to coach guys I played with. If I was ever to do it, I’d like to take a clean break for a few years.
“I’m happy to sit back in the wings for a few years. Who knows, maybe I’ll get to do it at some stage.”
McCarthy sees the middle third of the pitch as a key area Dublin must address. Brennan subbed off his two starting midfielders, Ethan Dunne and Brian Howard, in the opening 31 minutes against Mayo.
And McCarthy reckons Dublin need Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne to return from injury sooner rather than later because his size in the middle of the field is something the team has lacked in their first two games.
“Peadar had a super year last year,” says McCarthy.
“We probably lost our fair share of players in that area of the field. If you look at the last few years, obviously myself, John Small, Brian Fenton are no longer there, Jack McCaffrey is not there either.
“Look, it’s the most important area in the game now, if you haven’t got a strong middle eight, you’re going to suffer.
“The kickouts are so important in the game now, the majority of them are going long so you need your bodies there, you need your guys getting up to catch it or break it and you need your guys on the breaking ball. It’s huge.
“I think if you look at Dublin in the last two games, I don’t think they’d be too happy with how they’re doing in that area.
“I do think Peadar is going to be probably the dominant midfielder for Dublin for the next few years. He’s going to be definitely one of the most important players for Dublin and I suppose it’s trying to get a stable partner for him, that’s probably a big thing.”
♦ McCarthy was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final between University of Limerick and University College Cork at Croke Park, 7.35pm.
