2017 vindicated Con O'Callaghan's decision to eschew intercounty hurling for football. He will almost certainly be crowned Young Player of the Year after a series of championship performances turning the heretical notion of Diarmuid Connolly being considered dispensable to the Dubs' forward line into a palatable reality.
Connolly's importance to Dublin was ultimately accentuated in the second half of the All-Ireland final, but he has recently faced questions as to whether he will tread the opposite path to O'Callaghan. He told Eir Sport that it is probably"too late for him" to play inter-county hurling, having done so up to under-21 level.
The pair's respective decisions have no bearing at club level, however, and both faced off against each other in a Dublin championship semi-final at Parnell Park over the weekend.
O'Callaghan was part of Cuala's full-forward line, while Connolly lined out at midfield for Vincent's. Cuala won out, 4-16 to 2-16, to set up a repeat of last year's final against Kilmacud Crokes.
Connolly possibly outshone O'Callaghan, however, landing three impressive points from play. The latter, meanwhile, converted a goal chance having been set up by some hustling by Shane Stapleton.
The full match highlights are available to watch below, courtesy of Dublin GAA.
