By John Harrington

Dublin manager Jim Gavin believes that Evan Comerford is ready to step into Stephen Cluxton’s boots for Sunday’s Leinster SFC Final against Laois if required.

Cluxton hasn’t missed a match for Dublin since 2004, but a lower back injury suffered against Longford in the Leinster semi-final is threatening to end that long run of matches.

Comerford looked assured when he came on as a sub for Cluxton against Longford after 23 minutes, and Gavin has given him a big vote of confidence ahead of Sunday’s match.

“There are lots of good goalkeepers playing in Dublin senior football and intermediate football as well, but I suppose the big thing we looked for with Evan is his character,” said Gavin.

“He's very strong mentally, has a great work ethic and that's for anybody who wants to break into inter-county football, that's probably the most important thing that he has.

“He does have a great attitude and for a young man he's got a great knowledge of the game. He knows exactly what he wants his players to do for him as a goalkeeper.

“Very commanding. Has always been an excellent shot-stopper. You would have seen that at underage and he's really developed a repertoire of kicking skills which again obviously is needed in the modern game.

“He's a bright future ahead of him.”

Comerford’s kicking skills were certainly apparent in the Leinster semi-final against Longford. Cluxton’s re-starts are a huge part of the Dublin game-plan, and Comerford was no less effective from the kicking tee.

“Yeah, well it's down to Evan,” said Gavin. “Hard work, hard work pays off. He's put a lot of work into that facet of his game.

“It's only one element but it's an important one and he's worked really hard and his attitude and character is what has always impressed us with him.

“When any player isn't available to us, the next player needs to step up.

“So the team has been always adaptable to players that we have or haven't. It's just you need to move on.”

You could see the influence of Cluxton on Comerford’s style of goalkeeping against Longford, particularly from those restarts.

Gavin believes the goalkeeping apprentice has learned a lot from training with the greatest master of them all in Cluxton.

“I suppose it's his leadership instincts,” said Gavin. “And leadership is all about setting an example and influencing players around you.

“Stephen is normally the first at training, he's normally the last off the pitch.

“That work ethic that Stephen has and his diligence to his craft of goal-keeping, I'm sure Evan and the other goalkeepers that are around him, and not only the goalkeepers but the other players as well, they see it every time we train together.

“Stephen's dedication to his sport and his determination and above all his application to keep learning.

“He's obviously achieved an awful lot in the past, but he's relentless in trying to be his best. That's what's most impressive about him.”

Cluxton’s participation in Sunday’s Leinster Final is in doubt, but Jack McCaffrey is pushing hard for a starting place after impressing as a half-time substitute against Longford.

Having ruptured his cruciate in last year’s All-Ireland Final against Mayo, he wasn’t expected to be in line for a return to the team until the All-Ireland series.

But the Clontarf man has clearly worked ferociously hard behind the scenes to ensure he made a full and quick recovery from the injury.

“I don’t think Jack is conventional,” said Gavin. “He is his own man. And it is great to see, we encourage that.

“Jack decided when he was ready, pretty much and I think we saw the last day he has lost none of his pace, his agility, his ball-handling, his link, his game intelligence, his game awareness.

“Thought he had a big impact when he came on. Delighted for him. But again, off in the shadows away from the pitch, he has worked really, really hard to give him that credit.

“He has applied himself to the recovery from the get-go. And the rewards of that are now that he has come back in tip-top shape and hopefully will impact the team when he is needed.”