Jim Gavin faces tough call on Stephen Cluxton’s replacement

As if the absence of goalkeeper and captain Stephen Cluxton for Sunday’s crunch game against Tyrone wasn’t worrying enough for Dublin football manager Jim Gavin, there is also some concern about who exactly should start instead of him.

Cluxton will definitely miss Sunday’s game in Omagh after receiving a straight red card during Saturday’s evening draw with Mayo at Croke Park – the All Star goalkeeper clearly tripping Mayo forward Kevin McLoughlin from behind, after 28 minutes: Cluxton’s exact fate will now depend on the contents of the referee’s report.

Cluxton has reportedly been cited for a category two infraction (“to kick or attempt to kick an opponent, with minimal force”) and so should only face a one-match ban. Had he been cited for a category three offence (“to kick an opponent either with force or causing injury”) he would have faced a two-match ban.

That would have meant that, should Dublin fail to progress to the league semi-finals, then Cluxton would have been forced to sit out Dublin’s opening game in the Leinster championship in Croke Park on June 8th, against either Laois or Wicklow.

In the meantime Gavin, while just about excusing Cluxton's red card offence on the basis that "we all make mistakes in life", must now decide who will wear the number one shirt for Sunday. Saturday's replacement goalkeeper Seán Currie had the proverbial nightmare, even Gavin admitting he had "one or two areas to improve", although it may be that Gavin still sticks with the Ballymun Kickhams man. It was Currie's first senior appearance for Dublin.

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Most likely to get a call-up, however, is Michael Savage, fresh from helping St Vincent's to the All-Ireland club football title on St Patrick's Day.

It’s also possible that Gavin will look to St Brigid’s goalkeeper Shane Supple and current under-21 goalkeeper Lorcan Molloy is another option.

Forward Paul Flynn is also likely to miss Sunday’s game against Tyrone after he sustained a suspected concussion when taking a heavy knock in the Mayo game. Gavin also admitted that Sunday’s showdown against Tyrone might be “a week too soon” for Bernard Brogan, and it’s still not clear yet if defender and All-Ireland winning club captain Ger Brennan will be recalled in time, either.

Yet Gavin declared himself relatively satisfied with what Dublin have got out of their league campaign, not that another game or two would go unwanted: “If we’ve two more games, fantastic. We’ll be guaranteed one anyway, if we get through, and if we’re not, we’ve a plan in place. Either way the guys will have competitive games with 10 weeks to go now to championship.”