Replacing any cloak of invincibility with such naked vulnerability, particularly so swiftly, is no easy task. Dessie Farrell may not see it that way, naturally, and yet part of his obvious challenge now is trying to reverse that task.
Not long ago, Dublin played like a team that didn't know how to lose; on Saturday night in Croke Park, they played like a team that didn't know how to win. For all the talk of innocence and lost experience the five-point defeat to Mayo marked another setback, and try as he did to explain it, Farrell knows perfectly well Dublin are simply aren't the force they once were.
Farrell pointed several times to the word cohesion, as in the lack of it, the Dublin manager certainly not appearing rattled by the situation. “Disappointed with the second half,” he said. “I thought we did a lot of things right in the first half. Conceded two goals that you just can’t afford to be conceding at this level but definitely the first half was much more positive from our perspective, the second half not so much.”
The last time Dublin lost their first three league games, in 2001, Farrell was still playing: they escaped relegation that year, but with only Donegal coming to Croke Park next, Kildare, Tyrone and Monaghan away, the prospect of being back in Parnell Park for league games in 2023 is looking increasingly real.
“We can’t look at that, we just look at it case by case, game by game, almost to the point of training session by training session, and day by day. If you get caught up in the pressure of league points and the struggle for survival, it doesn’t lend itself to the types of performances we want.
“We’re not concerned about the pressure. We have a plan, and it’s a bigger picture about trying to be really, really competitive come the summer time while introducing the new players that we have been through the league. We’re very happy with the dynamic and what everyone is bringing to the table. It’s just the performances haven’t been where we’d like them to be, probably lacking a bit of cohesion at the minute. But I’m very optimistic that will come when it has to come.”
Reinforcements
What the likes of Con O’Callaghan and James McCarthy will bring back to Dublin is obvious; another challenge for Farrell is bringing more of the younger players up to their level.
“Yeah, it’s a challenge for them, and maybe the senior players who find themselves in unchartered territory. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I think that’s the approach we have to take. There’s great opportunity to learn and grow in this period, because this is something new. They’re taking it on the chin, no one is feeling sorry for themselves. Again I think it comes back to that bit of cohesiveness, which isn’t there with us at the minute, and you just have to navigate your way through that.”
The last time Mayo beat Dublin in the league, in 2012, James Horan was in the second year of his then first term as Mayo manager. He probably never imagined being back a decade later for this one, still there was little disguising the depth of his satisfaction.
“Very pleased with the win,” said Horan. “And I suppose the reasons why we did win it. In conditions like that there’s going to be lots of ball on the ground, lot of things skidding. We won the majority of the ball on the ground, which is very pleasing. It shows good intent. We kept going. Made lots of mistakes and could have scored heavier, but overall on the basics on a wet night, we did a lot of good things.
"I was particularly pleased with Aidan Orme who showed the composure he can bring; Paul Towey worked very hard in the first half. Donnacha (McHugh) first time playing up here. Kept going, kept bring big energy there. I thought Jordan (Flynn) and Mattie were very strong. We have quite a few injuries as every team has this time of the year. The intent and attitude was strong."
