Former Tyrone footballer and Gaelic football pundit Seán Cavanagh has echoed the sentiments of Ciaran Whelan and Dessie Farrell by claiming that it could be the end for some of the older members of the Dublin team.
The Tribesmen yesterday ended a 90-year wait to beat the Dubs in a championship game; their last victory was in the 1934 All-Ireland final. The result also means that it will be the first time in 15 years that Dublin hasn’t at least made the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Attention will now turn to the futures of the older Dublin players. James McCarthy (34), Mick Fitzsimons (35), and Stephen Cluxton (42) all agreed to stay on when they won their ninth Sam Maguire title in 2023, but after failing to win a record-breaking tenth, the time to step away could be just around the corner for the trio.
Dublin boss Dessie Farrell didn't directly name the trio after Saturday's narrow loss to Galway, but it was obvious who he was referring to in his post-match interview.
"It could be the end of an era for some of those Dublin players," said Farrell. "I’m not going to pre-empt anything, but if it is, they have been wonderful servants, and they died with their boots on. We’ll all take stock and see where we are."
Cavanagh believes, like Farrell, that it could be the end of Cluxton's and Fitzsimons's careers with Dublin.
'It felt like it was a natural end to the greatest team we'll ever see'
Seán Cavanagh is expecting a rebuilding process for Dublin after the loss to Galway #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/rcKjGSqZgp— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 30, 2024
Speaking on the Sunday Game, Cavanagh said, "There feels like a bit of closure and a sadness to it. I was on the wrong end of a lot of results against that amazing Dublin team. When they won last year, you felt like it was a bit of a last dance.
"They got the band back together mid-season, and they eked out their win. For me, they couldn't retire like that. I know people talk about retiring on top, but you'd always retire wondering, "Could you go again? Could you win another one?"
Cavanagh believes that if the Dublin players do retire, they can leave with their heads held high after a decorated career in blue.
"When they had to bring the lads off, it felt like it was a natural end to probably the greatest team we'll ever see in Gaelic football history. Some of the best players will retire with bucketloads of medals, but they were beaten by a good Galway team that fully deserved their win.
"Losing the second half 0-09 to 0-05, I can't remember the last time that happened. They can retire, if they do retire, with their heads firmly held high."
Galway will play Donegal in the semi-finals on the weekend of July 13 and 14, while Armagh will play Kerry.
Fixture times and dates will be confirmed on Monday.
