That’s the belief of former All-Ireland winner Kevin Nolan, who maintains they aren’t “a million miles away” despite this year’s quarter-final exit – the first time Dublin have failed to reach a semi-final since 2009.
Two-thirds of the team that started against Galway in June are now 30 or over. Questions hover over several of their most decorated veterans, especially the three players who have won a record nine Celtic Crosses – Stephen Cluxton (42), Mick Fitzsimons (36) and skipper James McCarthy (34). Even manager Dessie Farrell has yet to confirm if he’ll be back for a sixth season.
“The previous year, with a few lads on nine All-Irelands, it would be hard not to go back again in case they did end up winning. At least they’ve given their all now; they can have no regrets of packing it in too early,” Nolan told the Independent.ie.
“But they were only a couple of points away from getting through, so it’s not as if they’re a million miles away … they could easily go again next year.
“Looking at the panel itself, it hasn’t been as strong as it would have been the previous couple of years. The starting 15 would have been stronger [against Galway] than previous matches, but with that comes maybe the weaker bench. Hopefully that loss will add to the hunger for the lads to go again next year.
“I’d probably expect a couple of players to pack it in, but there is still a lot of quality footballers in that panel.”
The feeling is that Farrell staying on would lessen the upheaval. “Dessie would know a lot of the players already, they had different panels with O’Byrne Cups, identified players that could be coming into those positions … players who saw league time but maybe not championship,” said the 2011 All-Star.
“An extra year of being involved in that set-up will add to the overall quality of the group and you’d hope that some of those younger lads will step up.”
Nolan is now living in Monaghan, where he is still playing club football as well as coaching at county U-16 development squad level. His adopted Farney are also facing into a period of transition, with several veterans potentially edging towards retirement and a new manager search under way after Vinny Corey stepped down.
The new boss will inherit a team facing Division 2 football for the first time since 2014.
“Probably not the worst place for them,” Nolan suggested. “There’s still a lot of quality footballers in Monaghan, and they’re just in a bit of a transition period now … and yes, you’d learn a lot from playing against Division 1 teams, but Division 2 is just as competitive.”
