The 2023 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

Pat Gilroy whom I can imagine had a big influence on Dessie Farrell's management this year and probably played a big part in get players such as Cluxton return.

I don't think there is many managers out there who would drop any ego they may have and pick up the phone to Pat Gilroy and ask for his expertise to help out. Dessie wanted whats best for Dublin first and foremost, not for himself. With Gilroy, McCaffrey, Mannion, Cluxton all back on board Dublin were always going to there or thereabouts this year.

Nope - definite credit where it is due there for Dessie - proper delegation. Dublin had the most famous water boy in the country.

In fairness, you were one of the few Dublin supporters who called Dublin to be there or thereabouts though, even before the arrival of Cluxton and Gilroy!

I honestly thought (worst case scenario) the way things were going that Leinster could be lost or worse after those div2 performances v what other counties were at - Galway - Kerry etc. But luckily Kildare have a sh!te management team, and cannot make use the obvious talent at their disposal.

At best the furthest I thought Dublin would get is the QF - Mayo - which I fully expected Mayo to win. A far cry from 2013, when I lashed the money on Dublin for Sam, at the start of the season each way.

After 2019 I thought all the signs were there that this Dublin team was going one way - on the downward curve fast, for a variety of reasons. Which in my book makes the Dublin turnaround even more impressive. However, it felt a bit like looking back to the past, rather than looking to the future. But it worked.

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Kerry tried that years ago with Bomber Liston and it completely flopped.

Yet when it came to the crunch for Dublin 'Mannion, McCaffery, Cluxton' made all the difference as seen in the Final the last day. That is a three out of three strike rate for the old guard on the big pressure day.

Kerry always have been poor losers IMO. They lacked a bit of steel coming down the stretch Sunday, Dublin were that little better, I actually thought dublin should have closed it out better, making alot of bad errors. I'll say it again Brian Fenton is footballer of the year, he was sensational from QF onwards in terms of dictating games. Clifford for me no, he was off radar Sunday and had a quiet QF.

It swings in roundabouts, Joe mc quillan have a very soft free against Derry in the SF

Val Andrews - there is a name from the past that I have not heard mentioned for years. I don't think he would have the profile even though he managed Louth plus Cavan - has senior inter-county management experience. From what I remember talking to a few Louth fans when he was there. I don't think they took to him. No idea about what Cavan people thought of him.

Paddy Christie - I think he would be a more popular choice compared to Val Andrews given his profile, he is doing senior intercounty with Longford as well.

There is the Ballymun connection - maybe he could talk James McCarthy into staying for one more year? If ever there was a fella that could convert McCarthy to a badly needed FB - (if Fitzsimons leaves) Paddy would be the right man for the job

Paul Curran - he would have massive profile anyway and has managed Ballymun - so there will be that connection which could help as above. But he has not managed senior inter-county

Jack Sheedy - would definitely have the profile he would be hard to miss, had his stint Managing Longford was a decade ago.

I have no idea what Longford people thought of Jack Sheedy's tenure as Manager - or what they think of Paddy Christie as current manager- I suppose the Longford fans would be the people to ask - did Sheedy do a decent job- is Christie doing a good job?

Mick Deegan - again definite profile but no intercounty management - is managing in 'enemy territory' with Ashbourne - has the connection with Jim Gavin as selector- so that continuity would be nice

Johnny Magee - is another name you could add to your list - had a stint managing Wicklow at senior intercounty level there three years 2015 -2018. Again, I have no idea if he did a good job to be honest, because success and improvement are all relative to the level of players available.

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Off that list I suppose the most experienced candidate would be Val Andrews. And profile wise the highest profile would be Paul Curran I would say. But it is food for thought anyway.

I am sure the Dublin County Board have some list somewhere. But I would only be guessing on who who would get the Dublin job - if it becomes vacant again. There is no 'stand out' candidate IMO.

Jack O Connor looks a little shellshocked to me. Which is understandable as he's just lost an All Ireland that he felt was there for the taking. He has never been able to win back to back All Irelands with Kerry and you can visibly see the hurt in his face.