'Dublin have to get Con on the pitch no matter what'
Dublin have it all to do if they're to survive Saturday's Battle of Newry with Derry and, according to former Offaly ace Nigel Dunne, they shouldn't dream of heading up north without the most potent weapon in their arsenal.
Con O'Callaghan missed Dublin's Croke Park loss to Armagh last time out having come off injured in their win over Galway in Salthill in round one of the group stage.
The Cuala ace's current injury status is unclear but, if he's fit enough to lace his boots by the weekend, Dunne reckons Dessie Farrell should ask him to suit up against Derry.
"Even if Con's injured – once he's somewhat able to play, I'd tog him out," Dunne told the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"He's their spiritual leader. They're a more confident group with Con just standing on the field. That's very simplistic, but I believe that in my heart of hearts.
"He calms everyone down, he composes the team. He even gives Dessie more confidence in the rest of the players.
"Whatever he has to do, Con has to be on that field at the weekend."
The task is simple for Derry. While a draw will do Dublin, the Oak Leafers have to win or their 2025 season is over. The claustrophobic confines of Páirc Esler should suit the Ulstermen, with an apparently vulnerable Dublin side very much there for the taking having already been beaten twice in the championship this summer.
Derry, on the other hand, have been leaning on some old war horses as they work their way back into the form that took them to an Allianz League title last season.
"The venue has significance here. It will suit Derry," Dunne argued. "They finished strong in the last 12 minutes against Armagh, they had a really good outing against Galway.
"They look to be coming back to their old form. Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers have grabbed the dressing room by the scruff of the neck and said 'lets get over this. Rory Gallagher's not coming back. We have to move on with our lives, we have to make sure Derry's competitive again'.
"If the game was in Croke Park, I'd be saying Dublin all day long. I really give Derry a massive chance. But Dublin look a bit vulnerable. They looked panicked the last day [against Armagh].
"There was a stretch in the second half where Dublin were doing what Dublin do, they were breaking at pace, they still have all these great athletes – but they were panicking and forcing two-point shots.
"They looked like a team that didn't trust themselves. They didn't trust themselves to chip away at a lead. They were anxious to get scores on the board. It just felt like they lacked confidence, which is an unusual thing to say.
"Even Dessie Farrell throwing the hat on the ground… Dublin are going to have to come out swinging – because you know Derry will."
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