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Craig Dias: 'It is extremely enjoyable'

Pictured is Kilmacud Crokes star, Craig Dias, at the launch of this year’s GOAL Mile campaign, proudly supported by AIB. This year, as the GOAL Mile marks its 40-year anniversary, AIB is celebrating this long-standing tradition of partaking in the GOAL Mile at Christmas by calling on the people of Ireland to re-establish this tradition with their friends and families or to create a new tradition, and by encouraging everyone to Step Up Together for GOAL this Christmas.

Pictured is Kilmacud Crokes star, Craig Dias, at the launch of this year’s GOAL Mile campaign, proudly supported by AIB. This year, as the GOAL Mile marks its 40-year anniversary, AIB is celebrating this long-standing tradition of partaking in the GOAL Mile at Christmas by calling on the people of Ireland to re-establish this tradition with their friends and families or to create a new tradition, and by encouraging everyone to Step Up Together for GOAL this Christmas.

By Cian O’Connell

“There is a good community buzz going on in Kilmacud at the moment,” Craig Dias says about an action packed spell for Kilmacud Crokes.

Football, hurling, and ladies football teams from the club are all representing Dublin impressively so a feel good factor exists.

Following the weekend’s AIB Leinster Club SFC success over Naas, Dias and his colleagues returned to Glenalbyn “We went back to the club on Sunday, we welcomed the girls back,” he says.

“It was disappointing we didn't get to go out to the game because it clashed with each other. It is great to see other teams being so successful in the club.

“There is a buzz around, even helping out with some of the kids teams, you see them talking about the game, getting excited for other games too. It looks like they have role models and the girls have role models which is very, very important.”

More than a decade involved in the senior ranks with Crokes, Dias is fully aware that a particularly special time is unfolding at the moment. Another Croke Park outing beckons against Portarlington on Saturday November 19 in a provincial semi-final.

“It is extremely enjoyable, winning is always enjoyable,” he responds. “We have a really, really good unit now. We probably went through a few barren years in the middle when it wasn't as enjoyable.

“We weren't playing the expansive football that we can play. We have evolved and we are a mature side. I probably didn't see that personally myself when I first broke on to the team because I was so inexperienced.

“I wasn't really involved in the intricacies of the strategy and motivating others, it was more go out to play. Yes that was enjoyable, but I also appreciate what is going on now.”

Craig Dias remains a key player for Kilmacud Crokes.

Craig Dias remains a key player for Kilmacud Crokes.

Between Dublin triumphs in 2010 and 2018 demanding days were endured by Crokes. What encourages Dias, though, is how a new wave of talent has emerged.

“In 2012 that was the last county final we had been in - we had a few unlucky losses in semi-finals,” he reflects.

“We just weren't motoring as well, that could have been a hangover with the likes of Johnny Magee and a few others finishing up too. It was just blooding new players, getting them mature enough to really push the team on.

“You have the likes of Shane Cunningham, who is the captain now, Dara Mullin, even some of the younger cohort - Cillian O'Shea. It is their team. You have leaders all over the team so it is no surprise that we are so successful.

“Depending on what opposition we are playing, we might have to adapt on a given day. We cannot wait until half-time to do that so different players are stepping up - controlling and talking out loud about what we need to do to adjust during those games. That is probably why it is so enjoyable and why we are so successful at the moment.”

At various stages in 2022 Kilmacud have responded following setbacks including injuries to key figures such as talisman Paul Mannion. “Definitely,” Dias says about the resilience demonstrated.

“It comes from the squad too. Lads are pushing each other on so much. I was saying earlier there is probably a couple of players that are disappointed on a Thursday when the team is named and then even more disappointed when they actually aren't getting on.

“Take Conor Casey, who had a bad injury, he would have been coming on. He is a huge loss. Other players step in to fill that void. Just the same way when Mannion was out, I know we have Shane Walsh now, but last year other players stepped up to fill that void.

“We probably adjusted how we had to take scores and get those scores because Mannion is so prolific, but we do adapt. It is a strength and it is a testament to the team.”