Kilmacud Crokes manager Johnny Magee spoke of his delight to have Paul Mannion back in the fold after beating Ballyboden St Enda’s in a seven-point win on Saturday.

Crokes got off to a flyer in their Dublin Senior Football Championship campaign opener as Mannion helped his side to victory with two late frees.

Speaking to Oisin Langan, Magee always felt Mannion would fit seamlessly back into club football.

“Good footballers will always settle into whatever system is in play,” Magee told Off The Ball.

“When they come back in it’s their enthusiasm and the lads look up to them. And when they come in and slot into what we’re about – it’s the most important thing.

“We’ve had a history of Dublin footballers coming back in and wanting to row in and win championships, and Paul is no different.”

Crokes will benefit from being able to rely upon their best inter-county players for the next two weeks and Magee feels their presence will be key to building team spirit.

“The fact that we have them for another two weeks is great,” Magee said.

“I’m really delighted that the lads are back from Dublin and they’re being released to us for the whole time period and they’re not back with Dublin until whenever the championship is finished.

“We’ve only had two league games to prepare for today’s game – but it’s the same for every team – and it’s great to have the lads for another two weeks.

“It brings the unit in tighter. New management, few new players; it’s great to have that time to spend with the county players.”

Magee has benefitted from Dublin releasing their players for club duty but knows not every club is in the same fortunate position.

“It’s worked for a Dublin point of view in relation to the lads being released,” Magee said.

“Jim [Gavin] was releasing lads to all their clubs for the period of April. But I know there are other counties who haven’t released their players to train, but have allowed them to play league games.

“For me you need two separate seasons where you define the season; play your county season and then play your club season.

“We need to sit around a table and thrash whatever is out – I don’t think that has really happened yet. It’s definitely going to affect the so-called weaker counties or clubs that mightn’t have the population to deal with one of their better players going to play for their county.

“A lot of clubs need their best players playing. And if you have a club where one or two county players, and they have a small pool to pick from, it’s very difficult.”

Written by James Hopper