Former Armagh legend Oisin McConville believes Jim McGuinness will not start Patrick McBrearty in this Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Final against Kerry.
McConville believes McGuinness will leave McBrearty in reserve despite his impressive performance off the bench against Dublin.
McBrearty scored the winning point against Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final and scored three excellent points in the Ulster SFC victory over Monaghan.
However, McConville believes the Kilcar man has endured a frustrating season, and is now a better option off the bench for Donegal.
McConville was speaking to Charlie Collins at the Donegal Daily ‘Up for the Match’ last night when he said he didn’t think McBrearty would start.
“I don’t think McGuinness will start McBrearty, he’s done better off the bench than he has done when he’s started.
“I think he’ll keep on the side lines, and bring him on when he needs him, he has used him to great effect against Monaghan and Dublin in the two matches in which he didn’t start in.
“As a player you want to play, and you don’t want to get tagged as a super-sub but I do think he’s a great option off the bench.
McConville admitted he’s been frustrated with McBrearty this season and said he had predicted him to have a great season, but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened.
“I’ve been frustrated with McBrearty, I thought he was really going to have a great year and show the undoubted quality he has on a consistent basis, but it hasn’t happened.
“He’s as frustrated as anyone by it, he’s some talent, but he’s only scored eight points in the championship all year, and as we’ve said five of those have came from the bench.
“He just hasn’t done it from the start, I think it’s hard for him, he’s the main man at club level and was the outstanding player in the country at U21 level.
“But he could have a huge impact from the bench on Sunday, his scores against Dublin last time out were outstanding.
Tags: