Gilroy gung-ho about new challenge

DUBLIN SENIOR FOOTBALL: Ian O'Riordanhears the businesslike new manager outline his plans and hopes for his tenure in the Dublin hot-seat

AFTER WE'D all shaken hands and written our name tags, ordered our starter and decided on the lamb or the fish, Pat Gilroy began an open discussion on what we expected of him during his reign as Dublin senior football manager. Or, as it turned out, what he expected of us.

As an exercise in manager-media relations this was both unprecedented, and impressive. Gilroy moved into the hot seat last month with limited managerial experience (as in none) but with extensive business experience, and he clearly intends on establishing a sound working and workable relationship with the media.

So he invited us all to lunch. On the inevitable assumption that there's no such thing as a free lunch, Gilroy also gave us the preliminary Dublin football panel for 2009, while in return we gave him advice on what we all needed - or at least wanted - as he headed into his two-year term.

In the end we left the old dining hall at Albert College in Dublin City University as if we'd signed some historic peace agreement, yet half assuming it would be all downhill from here.

Like any new manager, Gilroy intends on doing things his way. As much as he intends giving the Dublin job "100 per cent", the 36-year-old also has a job, and a family. (Actually quite a busy job: managing director of Dalkia Ireland, an environmental services company.) As a result, his backroom team includes a new Dublin football secretary, Ciarán McCarney, who will effectively run all media requests and the like.

"In the day or two after I was appointed I had 32 phone messages requesting one-on-one interviews," said Gilroy. "I wouldn't have time to even listen to all those messages, let alone carry out the requests."

He intends on holding a weekly press briefing for all matters surrounding his football panel, and one thing is sure: not all the 43 names on the preliminary panel will get to wear a Dublin jersey.

The more pertinent question is how many of them will get to wear it again?

Practically the entire 2008 panel has been recalled, with Jason Sherlock among those recommitting for another year.

"The first thing to say about this panel is there's a front door, and a back door, and both of them are open the whole time. What we have here, to begin with, is essentially the panel from last year, with the new players called in after looking at club matches, and after last weekend's tournament. I believe club performances are key in identifying new talent, and we will be watching players constantly, and we won't be afraid to add or subtract from this panel as we see fit.

"I would also like to see every Dublin player playing with the club all of the time. I want to look at everybody, and of course it doesn't bother me what club they're from. We haven't even contacted the Kilmacud Crokes players yet because we want them to be fully concentrated on the club championship, and I wish them all the best in that. And Jason Sherlock was back with us from the very first meeting. There was no indication at any stage that he wouldn't be involved."

Last Saturday's tournament at Parnell Park was arranged on a divisional basis to give Gilroy the opportunity to view the best club players from across the county at the one venue (and saw Dublin North East beat Dublin West in the final): "I have to hand it to the players. We saw some superbly competitive football. But until we really get out hands on them, we just won't know their true potential. But we had 120 players out there at the weekend and every one of them burst a gut.

"Our focus now is on getting ready for the Tyrone match, in Croke Park, at the end of January. And I'm very excited by that game of course. If you're going to kick things off you may as well kick it off with a bang. Whether it's a game of Monopoly over there in the corner I want to win. But the reality is we won't have done the training at that time of the year to play the way we'll want to.

"But for now the players are working away on their own, but also resting, which I know from my own playing experience, with St Vincent's, is a very important part of the season. We can't start collective training until January 1st. Players have earned the break, and need it, but it also gives them time to get back into the gym and work on other areas.

"The rule is there for a reason and I concur with it. And it's more important for me to get my hands on players that are keen and fresh next January than getting my hands on them now where they are still tired."

The newcomers to the panel include defenders Seán Breheny, James Brogan, Paul Conlon, Hugh Gill, David Mooney; midfielders Colin Daly and Seamus Walsh; goalkeeper Thomas McGrath; and forwards such as Rory O'Connor, Enda Dolan and Donal Ryan.

Paul Brogan (St Plunkett's) and Niall O'Shea (St Jude's) were not considered at present due to injury. Also, new players from Kilmacud Crokes will be reviewed once they are finished in the Leinster/All Ireland club championship. The only two 2008 panel members of note missing are John O'Brien and Philip McMahon.

Gilroy also stated that he would be open to the prospect of having dual players on his panel, depending on the specific circumstances: "If 22 players came to me and said they wanted to play hurling as well then that would be a problem. But otherwise we'll deal with that issue as it comes. But I certainly don't think I have the right to tell someone what they can't play."

Dublin senior football panel 2009

* Indicates new panel member)

1 Paddy Andrews (St Brigid's)

2 Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge St)

3 Kevin Bonner (St Brigid's)

4 Sean Breheny (St Jude's)*

5 Ger Brennan (St Vincent's)

6 Alan Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER)

7 Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER)

8 James Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER)*

9 Barry Cahill (St Brigid's)

10 Paul Casey (Lucan Sarsfields)

11 Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

12 Paul Conlon (St Vincent's)*

13 Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent's)

14 Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps)

15 Colin Daly (Skerries Harps)*

16 Tiernan Diamond (St Vincent's)

17 Enda Dolan (Ballymun Kickhams)*

18 Eamonn Fennell (O'Toole's)

19 Paul Flynn (Fingallians)

20 Hugh Gill (St Vincent's)*

21 Paul Griffin (Kilmacud Crokes)

22 David Henry (Raheny)

23 Alan Hubbard (Ballymun Kickhams)

24 Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda's)

25 Blaine Kelly (St Mary's, Saggart)

26 Darren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes)

27 Ross McConnell (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER)

28 Thomas McGrath (Fingal Ravens)*

29 Brendan McManamon (St Jude's)

30 David Mooney (O'Toole's)*

31 Colin Moran (Ballyboden St Enda's)

32 Derek Murray (Round Tower's, Clondalkin)

33 Kevin Nolan (Kilmacud Crokes)

34 Rory O'Connor (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER)*

35 Michael Savage (St Vincent's)

36 Stephen O'Shaughnessy (Lucan Sarsfields)

37 Tomás Quinn (St Vincent's)

38 Shane Ryan (Nh Mearnog)

39 Donal Ryan (Raheny)*

40 Jason Sherlock (Na Fianna)

41 Mark Vaughan (Kilmacud Crokes)

42 Seamus Walsh (St Mary's, Saggart)*

43 Ciarán Whelan (Raheny)