Conor McManus believes Dublin are a class above their competition because of their individual quality – and not their fitness levels.
The Monaghan attacker narrowly missed out on a Croke Park All-Ireland final appearance after his side lost out to Ulster rivals Tyrone at the semi-final stages.
Dublin are looking to rack up a fourth consecutive Sam Maguire on Sunday against Tyrone but have been criticised for their “methodical” style of play.
But McManus refused to accept that Dublin’s superiority was down to anything other than their individual quality on the pitch.
“There’s no doubt they’re the best team in the country at the minute,” McManus told OTB.
“This group of players over the last six or seven years are some of the greatest players to have ever played the game. But I don’t see that [physical edge].
Ciaran Kilkenny in action for Dublin. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
“All of the top teams in the country are at a similar level in terms of their conditioning so as a general rule, I don’t see much of a difference amongst the top teams in terms of conditioning and most of the teams we play week in week out in the National League and throughout the championship.
“Some teams are just better than others and have better players. Dublin have more better players than most teams in the country and that’s just the level they’re at, at the minute.
“If you look back over the years – particularly the Dublin team of three, four and five years ago – these boys just went out after you. If you scored 2-24 they’d score 2-25.
“At the minute, they’re a wee more methodical in the way they play and systematic in how they go about it. But they’re still top footballers.”
James Hopper
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