BEAR NECESSITY

Ger's tough love paying off for rejuvenated Dubs

- Garry DOYLE

GER Brennan has admitted he deliberately tried to "poke the bear" earlier this year when he suggested some of Dublin's All-Ireland winners could lose their places.

The Dubs boss raised eyebrows after hauling off three players before the half-hour mark of their League defeat to Mayo in Castlebar, including five-time All-Ireland winner Brian Howard.

Brennan then warned that some of his senior stars faced an uncertain future.

Decisions

"There will be a few tough decisions to be made," he said at the time.

But no big-name casualties followed.

Howard, Niall Scully and the rest of Dublin's experienced campaigners all stayed on board - and Brennan now admits his comments were designed to get a reaction.

The gamble has paid off. Dublin's veterans have helped steer the county into an unlikely All-Ireland semi-final after successive Championship wins over Cavan, Donegal and Galway.