Paul Curran expects Dessie Farrell to stay on as Dublin manager
Paul Curran pictured at the launch of Leinster GAA's Beko Club Champion, an initiative open to all GAA clubs in Leinster. The Beko Club Champion accolade rewards and celebrates local GAA club heroes who go above and beyond to help their local community and club.
By John Harrington
Former Dublin footballer, Paul Curran, believes Dessie Farrell will stay on as the county’s senior football team manager and try to persuade nine-time All-Ireland winners James McCarthy, Stephen Cluxton, and Michael Fitzsimons to play again in 2024.
But he cautions that if Farrell opts to step down, many of the team’s veterans could decide they will also walk off into the sunset.
"Yeah, I think he will,” says Curran of the prospects of Farrell remaining in charge of the team.
“They've put a huge amount of work into this year but they do every year. Nothing will change next year if he stays. I think he will, yeah. I'd be surprised if he doesn't go on for another year. I think he's 'contracted' for another year anyway. So, yeah, I would fully expect him to stay on.
“I think if Dessie stays on I think he’ll try and keep everybody on board…if Dessie goes himself there’s going to be big changes.
“That’s a huge change for somebody to come in because there’s no standout candidate in Dublin for me. Probably our ladies manager Mick Bohan is probably the one that could step in there but there’s no standout candidate really so that would have a knock-on effect.
“Also, missing great players like James McCarthy or Cluxton - we say we coped without him, we didn’t really when he stepped away the last time but it would have a huge effect on us.
“The big ones are obviously the guys with nine medals. The three lads (Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy, and Michael Fitzsimons). Will the three of them come back? I'd surprised if any of them don't. Cluxton is the one. I think the other two will definitely stay on. Cluxton, you never know.”
Captain James McCarthy, left, and manager Dessie Farrell lift the Sam Maguire cup during the homecoming celebrations of the Dublin All-Ireland Football Champions at Smithfield Square in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Dessie Farrell cast a wide net in 2023 and between the O’Byrne Cup, National League, and Championship a total of 56 players were given game-time.
There’s clearly a deep reservoir of playing talent in the county, but Curran believes that it’s important the old guard stay on for at least another year in order to help a new generation find their feet at the highest level.
“That process continues, no matter what happens that is ongoing," says Curran. "He will use more players next year, whoever is there.
“I won’t say there is a conveyer belt of players but there is a lot of young players in the county involved in development squads and minor teams and under-20s, so there is a huge pick of young fellas there they can tap into and give them gametime in the early competition and in the league.
“To answer your question, I think it is important there is no mass exodus and that they keep them together for another year.
“I think we will start 2024 the same way as we started 2023, with the questions 'is it one year too much?' 'Is this the end?'
“All the questions that were there at the beginning of this year. I’d be hoping they’d all stay on again, the season is so short now, it’s not a long season, you can manage your players and have them ready for April until the end of July, a couple of months.”
Curran currently coaches the Dunshaughlin senior football team that will play Ratoath in the Meath SFC Quarter-Final this Sunday.
He believes there’s a lot of potential in Meath football at the moment because the coaching structures are producing a generation of talented young footballers who have tasted success at minor and U-20 inter-county level.
But he still thinks the Royals are some way off toppling Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Championship.
“I have always said it, Meath’s way back to the top is through us, always has been," says Curran. "I can guarantee you that is the way Colm O’Rourke is thinking as well, to get that win over Dublin in the Leinster Championship.
“I think they are a little bit away yet but I think they would have got a lot of confidence from this year. With no Tailteann Cup they would have been out of the championship very early and waiting six months to get going again.
“Now they are going again with huge confidence, a cup in the bag and the players, are mad keen to go again.
“Then the level of players underneath that who want to be part of it are coming into a decent culture. I think they are a little bit off it at the moment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they topple the Dubs in the next couple of years.”