Former Dublin footballer Ciaran Whelan has stated that he believes more Dublin retirements could follow in the coming weeks after Brian Fenton’s shock decision to step away this week.
This week, Fenton announced his retirement at the age of 31, just weeks after Dublin captain James McCarthy also revealed his decision to retire.
Fenton made his Dublin inter-county senior debut in 2015 and went unbeaten in Championship games for his first six years. His honours include seven All-Ireland medals over 10 seasons, 10 Leinster titles, and two Footballer of the Year awards.
The announcement has come as a significant shock to Dublin fans. Whelan believes Fenton’s retirement could signal the beginning of a wider transition for the team.
“There could be more (retirements),” Whelan told The Mirror. “There were rumours going around over the last couple of weeks, but you were hoping they weren’t true.
“It’s hugely disappointing, but it’s understandable when you’ve put in a 10-year shift. He’s always been very clear that he wanted to do other things with his life.
Brian Fenton of Dublin leaves the pitch (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)“I said after the Galway game (All-Ireland quarterfinal defeat), I felt there was a sense of something coming to an end.
“Who knows what the next few weeks will bring in terms of other players because there are a good few of Brian’s generation. It is certainly going to be a rebuilding phase for Dublin.”
Dublin’s stranglehold on Leinster football will now be weakened due to the retirements of McCarthy and, especially, Fenton. Whelan believes replacing Fenton will be a major challenge but feels it will make senior football more competitive and exciting.
“We bandy around sayings like ‘nobody is irreplaceable,’ but it’s going to be very hard to replace Brian Fenton, and there is nobody obvious in the slipstream putting their hand up to take that number eight jersey," he added.
“I think it’s going to be a patient time for Dublin, and Dessie (Dublin manager Dessie Farrell) is certainly going to have to do a bit of rebuilding.
“We’ll just have to see what the next few weeks hold, but I’m sure the rest of the country are licking their lips and saying, 'Yep, like last year, everybody was saying there’s an All-Ireland there.’
“It’s going to be very open, and that will bring its own excitement as well.”
