And so, the worst kept secret in Irish sport is out. Ger Brennan has indeed succeeded Dessie Farrell as Dublin senior football manager. The St Vincent’s man – a two time Celtic cross winner in 2011 and 2013 – has initially been handed a three year term in charge of the metropoles.
You’d have to feel for Louth a bit though. With Brennan being the second, consecutive Wee County boss to jump ship in favour of another job after the Mickey Harte circus departed for Derry before leaving them in the lurch and hopping off to the midlands.
Anyway, whilst there could be no denying of or lack of admiration for what Brennan achieved with Louth, expectation and pressure in his native county’s job will be on a different level to anything the former half back has experienced to date either as player or manager.
Though the following may seem like an alien concept to folks in the capital, the genuine Dubs fan and student of the form would surely accept that the two shades of blue are headed for spell in transition.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that the men of the Fair City are about to become a back number or anything of the sort. But, unique though it may be, one suspects the first call he may make will be to a certain 43-year-old revolutionary maverick. Even if he doesn’t manage to keep Stephen Cluxton aboard in a playing capacity, he could do far worse than have him involved in some sort of managerial capacity. From my own observations and having canvassed the opinion of well placed sources, the game’s greatest ever custodian is an astute reader of the game and would absolutely be an addition to any management setup.
Whatever about that, though, if I were Ger Brennan, if Cluxton was the first phone call made – in terms of players – Brian Fenton would absolutely be the second. Obviously, from a Meath perspective I’d advise the great Raheny man to continue his very well earned long retirement! But on a serious note, if his body was up to it, there’s no doubt he would still have plenty more to offer the boys in blue.
In terms of otherwise augmenting his regiment, from what I’ve seen of Dublin underage teams in the last couple of years, players like Noah Byrne and Paddy Currie and Luke Fortune will surely be singled out among those going into Ger’s jotter.
At the time of typing I am not aware whether the former Moorefield boss has constructed or publicised his backroom team but, as with the phone call to Cluxton, he could certainly also invest a few cents in giving Declan D’Arcy a shout.
The Aughawillan legend was supposedly the other leading contender for the job and, given the fact the former St Brigid’s player was an integral part of Jim Gavin’s entourage during the most glorious era any team football team has ever enjoyed.
Regardless of who makes up the playing or backroom roster in the capital, Brennan’s appointment might cost managers in the province a few winks of shut eye.
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