Farrell says challenge is to keep Dublin underage ‘special era’ going

Dessie Farrell is simply calling it “a special era”. It’s one way of describing the winning of a third All-Ireland under-21 title in five years.

Farrell took over the team that lifted the title last Saturday as an under-13 development squad, and has guided them every step of the way.

Some inevitably fell behind or opted out, while others came on board, and Farrell believes there is nothing unique about Dublin’s development model, nor indeed does it guarantee success.

"A lot of other counties have development squads too. And we actually took the development squad model from Ulster, if I'm not mistaken. So it's a well-worn and well tried and trusted method and it does identify young talent.

Some difficulties
"But there are some difficulties with the development squad model, too, in that you can sometimes tend to neglect other players that mature at maybe a later age. But the Dublin county board, to their credit, have put a lot of resources into it, and we are reaping the rewards for that now.

“We’re also really fortunate we’ve a good crop of players, at senior and under-21 level.

“I wouldn’t be getting carried away with it, though. And I know people who understand the game and operate in Dublin wouldn’t be either.

“I think it’s a just a special era. I don’t think it’s going to last forever. I think the challenge for Dublin people is to try to sustain that period for as long as possible.”

What already sets this era apart is that traditionally, Dublin were nowhere to be seen at under-21 level, or at least neglected to give it their full and proper attention.

They actually opted out for a period in the 1980s, and although the under-21 competition started in 1964, Dublin didn’t win their first title until 2003, and had only contested three finals before that, losing to Galway in 2002, to Cork in 1980, and to Kerry in 1975.

When they won that first title in 2003, under Tommy Lyons, they beat an equally promising Tyrone team, although it was the northerners who actually went on to fulfil more of that promise at senior level.

However, when Dublin won their second title in 2010, under Jim Gavin, the senior promise was very soon fulfilled – with several players stepping up to help Dublin win the 2011 All-Ireland.

Now, from that 2010 All-Ireland under-21 winning team, Rory O’Carroll, Darragh Nelson, Jonny Cooper, Nicky Devereux and James McCarthy were all part of Gavin’s senior team that won the Allianz Football League title last Sunday week – and Dean Rock would surely have featured too but for injury.

Several players from Gavin’s 2012 All-Ireland under-21 winning team have also stepped up already to senior grade, most notably Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion, and Cormac Costello, and also Seán George, Ciarán Reddin, and Paul Hudson.

Ciarán Kilkenny and Kevin O’Brien would also be featuring if their seasons weren’t cut short by cruciate ligament injuries. Kilkenny would have been playing in Saturday’s win over Roscommon, as would the highly-promising Shane Carthy, who missed out for mental health reasons.

"Of course Shane was in our thoughts on Saturday," said Farrell. "He's going through a difficult time at the moment, but we look forward to seeing him back in a Dublin jersey very soon."

Stay on
Farrell is almost certain to stay on for a third season as manager, especially with players like Conor McHugh still young enough for 2015. Meanwhile, the likes of McCaffrey, Mannion, Costello, and also Davy Byrne, Eric Lowndes and Emmet Ó Conghaile are all set to resume their places on the Gavin's senior panel.

“It’s enjoyable,” added Farrell, “but I learn in this job every day, too. It’s hugely fulfilling, and it’s great to see them grow and develop in the way they do. Three years ago this particular group of players had a devastating defeat in an All-Ireland minor final in Croke Park. So it’s a long three years for them, and I’m delighted they got their just reward.

“A lot of stuff has been thrown at them this year, and it’s been truly remarkable to observe the maturity with which they dealt with them.”