Gilroy, the 2011 All-Ireland SFC-winning boss, confirmed that a second stint as Dublin hurling supremo isn’t on his radar now as he focuses on his role as hurling manager with his club St Vincent’s.
Gilroy, who was an important cog in Dublin’s 2023 All-Ireland SFC success under Dessie Farrell but was not involved this season, is in his second year with Vinnies as he bids to land their first Dublin SHC crown since 1993.
The 52-year-old insisted that he has not been in any contact with Dublin chiefs about becoming Micheál Donoghue’s successor.
“I’m managing Vincent’s hurlers at the moment and haven’t spoken with anyone about that so it hasn’t crossed my mind at all,” Gilroy told the Irish Independent of links with the Dublin hurling job.
Pat Gilroy (left) was an important cog as Dessie Farrell led Dublin to the 2023 All-Ireland football title. Photo: Sportsfile
Gilroy also stated that any rumours of him joining up with the Meath or Derry footballers are “not true” and that he has “never spoke to anyone in either” county about the roles.
With Gilroy clearly out of the mix, Joe Fortune has emerged as the front-runner to become the next Dublin hurling boss with the four leading candidates for the post all understood to be in-house.
Fortune, a Wexford native but also a former Dublin minor and U-21 manager since moving to the capital, already has a pair of Leinster titles to his name at underage level while he also has senior experience under his belt.
Fortune took charge of the Westmeath hurlers for three seasons, guiding them to the biggest win in their history when they secured a famous Leinster SHC victory over Wexford in 2023 having overturned a 17-point deficit in the process.
Fortune also led Ballyboden to the 2018 Dublin SHC title and is the clear favourite to take the top job.
Shane O’Brien, another former Westmeath manager who led the Lake men to Joe McDonagh Cup success in 2021, was a Dublin senior selector under Donoghue while juggling the Dublin U-20 job and is also believed to be in the hunt.
There’s been speculation that former Waterford manager Derek McGrath could be part of O’Brien’s ticket as a coach having worked under him in the capital with the Dublin U-20 side in 2023.
Paul O’Brien, another former Dublin U-20 boss who led them to Leinster success in 2021 before they fell to Cork in the All-Ireland final, is also being mentioned for the role, along with Niall Ó Ceallacháin, who famously led Na Fianna to a first Dublin SHC title last year.
