Ruthlessness is a trait prized in leadership.
Those who are able to lead need to have cold blood so that they can cut ties when they need too; there’s no room for sentimentality.
And it’s the same in all walks of life, be it politics, business or sport.
The most successful coaches and managers inspire loyalty amongst their players, but there’s a knowledge there that the axe can fall if standards drop.
Look at the greatest of GAA managers - ruthlessness is a characteristic they all shared. Brian Cody, Mick O’Dwyer, Sean Boylan and Jim Gavin.
Cody is 20 years in charge of Kilkenny and a string of players learned the hard way that no one was indispensable. Even Henry Shefflin, a hurler without equal in living memory, had to get used to life on the bench.
Paidi Ó Sé didn’t speak to Micko for years after he was dropped before finally learning, after a few years in management himself, that it was nothing personal, it was only business.
Boylan built a double All-Ireland-winning team in the eighties and by the time the Royals were lifting Sam Maguire again twice in the nineties he had built a second team with very little crossover. There was no room for blind loyalty.
Jim Gavin has constructed an empire that is currently aiming to do something never seen before in the GAA - an All-Ireland five in-a-row. Micko and Cody both came within a game of doing it and Dublin are aiming to go one further.
The former Air Corp pilot, a product of the army’s cadet school, didn’t get where he got today by keeping people happy for the sake of it. He has made hard decisions all his adult life and if people’s noses are out of joint, so be it.
Gavin has been leading the Dubs since 2013 and in the six seasons since he has brought them to five All-Ireland titles, including the current four in-a-row. In fact, the only trophies open to the team since then that they’ve missed out on are Sam in ’14 and the ’17 League.
Like Cody, he inspires absolute confidence and belief in his players, and like Cody he doesn’t try to be best friends with any of his squad. There’s a businesslike distance kept and that’s the way both sides like it.
The core of his team, and indeed the squad, has been stable and strong, but around them there has been a regular churn of players. Of the five All-Ireland finals since 2013, only six players have started each of them.
Those are immovable goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, perhaps the only player of this current outfit who will be able to decide the time of his own departure, Philly McMahon, Jonny Cooper, James McCarthy, Cian O’Sullivan and Ciarán Kilkenny.
Every year there has been minimum two, and more often three changes in personnel in the starting team.
Three All-Ireland medals, four All Stars and a Footballer of the Year award weren’t enough to insulate Bernard Brogan from being dropped for the replayed 2016 All-Ireland final. He’s rarely started since.
In 2017 Diarmuid Connolly stepped out of line, picking up a 12-week suspension, and by the time he was eligible to play again he found himself out in the cold, seeing action off the bench in the semi-final and final before drifting away from the squad.
Michael Darragh Macauley was 2013 Footballer of the Year and hasn’t started a final since - even failing to make it off the bench in 2017. Paul Flynn’s tale isn’t that different. Past performance is no indicator of future prospects with Jim Gavin in charge - it’s all about the here and the now and what’s best for the team.
There will be changes in 2019 too, have no doubt about it. Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard both emerged as big game players during last season’s coronation while Niall Scully also nailed down a starting role.
There are high hopes for youngsters like Aaron Byrne, Player of the Year as Dublin won the last All-Ireland Under-21 title in 2017, and Colm Basquel. And inevitably this means that established players will have to make way.
While a Dublin team without Brogan and Connolly was once unthinkable, it is now commonplace - and it didn’t slow down the Dubs’ trot either.
Up to now, most of the changes have come in midfield and attack, with Cluxton, McMahon and Cooper regulars in defence and O’Sullivan and McCarthy moving between there and midfield.
O’Sullivan, with his long history of hamstring complaints, and McMahon are Dublin’s oldest regular outfielders, both turning 31 by the time the next All-Ireland final rolls around.
The forthcoming Division 1 Allianz League campaign will be used for experimentation and some of the ever-presents of Dublin’s golden era may find out what it feels like to see Gavin’s ruthless side.
DIVISION 1 TEAM GUIDE
DUBLIN
Last year’s finish: Second P7 W5 D1 L1 (Division 1 champions)
Manager: Jim Gavin
Player to watch: Paddy Small - a brother of John Small, the Ballymun Kickhams player did see some competitive action in 2018. An athletic, physically imposing attacker, Small has an eye for a score and will be looking to make an even greater impression during the spring competition.
FIXTURES
26 January: Monaghan v Dublin
2 February: Dublin v Galway
9 February: Kerry v Dublin
23 February: Dublin v Mayo
3 March: Roscommon v Dublin
16 March: Dublin v Tyrone
24 March: Cavan v Dublin
GALWAY
Last year’s finish: First P7 W6 D1
Manager: Kevin Walsh
Player to watch: Michael Daly - the former U21 captain caught the eye en route to an All-Ireland final appearance for the county in 2017. Son of the legendary Val, the younger Daly is adept at picking out a pass.
FIXTURES
27 January: Galway v Cavan
2 February: Dublin v Galway
9 February: Monaghan v Galway
24 February: Galway v Kerry
2 March: Mayo v Galway
16 March: Galway v Roscommon
24 March: Tyrone v Galway
MONAGHAN
Last year’s finish: Third P7 W5 L2
Manager: Malachy O’Rourke
Player to watch: Ryan Wylie - while other names may garner the headlines in the Farney teamsheet, the Ballybay defender has been a pivotal presence under the stewardship of O’Rourke - and has proven a handful for more than a few top fowards.
FIXTURES
27 January: Monaghan v Dublin
3 February: Roscommon v Monaghan
9 February: Monaghan v Galway
23 February: Tyrone v Monaghan
3 March: Kerry v Monaghan
16 March: Monaghan v Cavan
24 March: Mayo v Monaghan
TYRONE
Last year’s finish: Fourth P7 W4 L3
Manager: Mickey Harte
Player to watch: Kyle Coney. After four years in the wilderness, the Ardboe clubman is back on the p. After cutting a dash as a minor over a decade ago, much was expected of Coney, but it never really happened for him. Now he has a second chance.
27 January: Kerry v Tyrone
3 February: Tyrone v Monaghan
10 February: Roscommon v Tyrone
23 February: Tyrone v Monaghan
2 March: Tyrone v Cavan
16 March: Dublin v Tyrone
24 March: Tyrone v Galway
KERRY
Last year’s finish: Fifth P7 W3 L4
Manager: Peter Keane
Player to watch: Sean O’Shea - one of the exciting crop of minor players, O’Shea, who made his championship debut against Clare last summer, will be looking to cement his place in the side.
FIXTURES
27 January: Kerry v Tyrone
3 February: Cavan v Kerry
9 February: Kerry v Dublin
24 February: Galway v Kerry
3 March: Kerry v Monaghan
16 March: Kerry v Mayo
24 March: Roscommon v Kerry
MAYO
Last year’s finish: Sixth W2 D1 L4
Manager: James Horan
Player to watch: Colm Moran - The Westport clubman was part of the side that reached last year’s All-Ireland U20 final. A lively corner forward with pace to burn.
FIXTURES
26 January: Mayo v Roscommon
3 February: Tyrone v Mayo
9 February: Mayo v Cavan
23 February: Dublin v Mayo
2 March: Mayo v Galway
16 March: Kerry v Mayo
24 March: Mayo v Monaghan
ROSCOMMON
Last year’s finish: Division 2 champions
Manager: Anthony Cunningham
Player to watch: Sean Mullooly - took a year out last year, but this return to the fray is a boost for Rossies, who were less than assured in defence in 2018.
FIXTURES
26 January: Mayo v Roscommon
3 February: Roscommon v Monaghan
10 February: Roscommon v Tyrone
24 February: Cavan v Roscommon
3 March: Roscommon v Dublin
16 March: Galway v Roscommon
24 March: Roscommon v Kerry
CAVAN
Last year’s finish: Promoted from Division 2
Manager: Mickey Graham
Player to watch: Conor Madden - often in the role of super sub, Madden has the knack of grabbing crucial scores when it matters.
FIXTURES
27 January: Galway v Cavan
3 February: Cavan v Kerry
9 February: Mayo v Cavan
24 February: Cavan v Roscommon
2 March: Tyrone v Cavan
16 March: Monaghan v Cavan
24 March: Cavan v Dublin
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