Brian Howard on the 'amazing' Stephen Cluxton and Kerry's 15-man army

A Bobby Ewing emerging from the shower moment at Parnell Park.

Not a sentence you'd expect to read and maybe it's a stretch to draw comparisons with Stephen Cluxton's return to the Dublin set-up and the Dallas cliffhanger from the 1985-86 season, but nevertheless there was much surprise when Cluxton returned to the fold.

In March of this year, the decorated custodian was named on the bench for Dublin's league game against Louth at Croke Park, some 27 months on from his last involvement with the squad - the 2020 All-Ireland final.

And then ahead of the Leinster semi-final against Kildare, Cluxton was handed the No 1 jersey, back between the sticks again. In the six games played since, the Parnells clubman has yet to concede a goal.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry, Dublin midfielder Brian Howard was as surprised as everybody else when the now 41-year-old netminder rejoined the squad.

"I didn't know anything about it, I remember being here in Parnell Park and seeing him walk through the door," he said.

"I looked around to see what other people's reactions were. When you think it's all over, he walks through the door. It's amazing.

"I was four years of age when he made his debut in 2001. All the lads have looked up to him, to see the career that he's been on. He has lifted the spirits within the group, along with the return of Jack (McCaffrey) and Paul (Mannion). To have Stephen around the group again is amazing.

"He didn't come back to demand the No 1 jersey, he had to fight off some tough competition in Evan Comerford (now injured) and David O'Hanlon. He has to back it now but he still has to work to keep hold of it."

Howard, a mainstay in the Dublin midfield, referenced an "up and down"