With the Drive for Five reaching its conclusion, Dublin must be bored of not having a proper challenge, Enda McGinley claimed on Thursday morning.
Speaking on OTB AM, the former All-Star said the Dubs would be “relishing a tight game,” in their quest to make history.
“They’re bound to be bored of not having a proper challenge coming down the last 10-15 minutes,” the Tyrone native said.
McGinley feels this lack of a proper challenge might expose a shortcoming in Dublin’s mindset.
“Maybe you get into the mindset that that’s what you’re used to.
“To snap out of that would be difficult with the sudden pressure if they find themselves maybe a point down going into the last five minutes.
“Suddenly the pressure of the five-in-a-row would come hurtling down the tracks at them,” the three-time All-Ireland winner said.
If Dublin were to lose to Tyrone in Omagh this weekend it would be a tarnish on their legacy should they ultimately win the five-in-a-row.
“An away loss, their first championship loss, in Omagh wouldn’t help this team’s reputation.
“I think even if they went on to five-in-a-row it would be an annoying niggle, wee tarnish on a remarkable legacy,” McGinley claimed.
A lingering doubt over Jim Gavin’s juggernaut is the perceived advantage they get from playing their games in Croke Park.
The former Red Hand midfielder says that the Dubs look like a different team once taken outside the Pale.
“I watched them last year in Omagh and Dublin just looked completely different out of Croke Park.
“They didn’t look as smooth or as high-level, their shooting was off compared to how it is in Croke Park,” McGinley observed.
Dublin will be hoping to blow that narrative away.
“Tyrone beat them, it rekindles this whole notion of how much of an advantage it is for them to be playing in Croke Park all the time.
“I think that will be an aspect in the Dublin mentality coming up to this game,” he said.
The figure of Diarmuid Connolly will also be looming over proceedings in Omagh.
McGinley feels it would be a “slap in the face” if he was to start against Tyrone but he will have a part to play in the Drive for Five.
“If he’s been going well [in training] I would say he’s earned 20-25 minute and that would be ideal from a Dublin point-of-view.
“It’s hard to imagine Dublin would lose the chance of a five-in-a-row with Diarmuid Connolly remaining unused unless he’s not showing well in training,” McGinley said.
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