Cormac Costello is Jim Gavin's only injury concern heading into Monaghan showdown
Jim Gavin has confirmed that Cormac Costello is his only Dublin casualty for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Monaghan.
The super-sub hero of last year’s All-Ireland replay has endured a horrendous run of misfortune this season, with recurring hamstring issues compounded by a more recent ankle injury. He hasn’t featured in Sky Blue since coming off the bench in Cavan at the very start of the Allianz League.
“Please God we'll get through this week and have close to the full hand for selection,” said Gavin at a Gibson Hotel press conference this morning.
“They're all back - just Cormac Costello. Cormac is back on the pitch, he's partaking in the training sessions again. It's just a little bit too early for him.”
On that basis, Jonny Cooper will be challenging for a recall after being ruled out for the Leinster final win over Kildare – while Paul Flynn and Michael Darragh Macauley, neither of whom has played a minute this summer, will also be pushing for some involvement against Monaghan.
“A lot of players are putting their hands up to be involved in the match-day squad,” said Gavin. “That's great to see. They have always been about the collective and that's what they're about now.”
On the subject of Costello’s ongoing battle, the Dublin boss remarked: “It's disappointing for any player that picks up an injury, you know. But he's really worked so hard at it with the medical team. He's been really diligent and hard at it. Now he's back on the pitch, which is great for him and great for the team.
“This is an ankle injury … it's a physical contact sport, sometimes these things happen. But he's back and that's the big thing. And who knows what happens this week, whether he'll partake in a Dublin jersey again this season.”
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