Seán Moran on how the new man emerged from the shadows as one of Tommy Lyons' selectors to take over the reins himself

There has been some surprise at the swift turn of events that led to the installation of Paul Caffrey as the new Dublin football manager. But from the moment that Brian Mullins withdrew his name from the process to replace Tommy Lyons, Caffrey's name was being mentioned.

"Paul was always someone we were going to come back to," said one county board source, "given his track record with Na Fianna." Caffrey had a peripheral county career as a player, featuring in Dublin panels during the 1980s but not playing championship, as shoulder injuries militated against his prospects of getting a sustained run on the team.

His management of Na Fianna was his main coaching credential. He led the breakthrough that saw the club, already knocking on the door, win three county titles in a row, 1999-2001, although he had left by the time of the third victory, leaving his brother John, who won an All-Ireland with Dublin in 1983, to manage that success.

The first of those seasons culminated in Na Fianna's winning the Leinster title five years ago. The club went on to reach the Millennium All-Ireland final but they were unlucky to run into the best display given in a final, by the great Crossmaglen team of the late 1990s.

The following season Na Fianna came close to retaining their provincial crown, losing unexpectedly to Carlow champions O'Hanrahans, managed by new Kilkenny hurling selector Michael Demspey.

Caffrey is a member of the Garda Síochána and works out of Store Street as a juvenile liaison officer. He is active in the juvenile section of Na Fianna and is highly regarded for the time and effort he invests in the club.

As manager of Na Fianna he was also well thought of for his knowledge of football and his perceptiveness on the line during matches. A fitness fanatic, he also brought discipline and organisation to the side.

When Tommy Lyons was appointed manager in 2001 it was no shock that Caffrey was brought in as assistant manager, along with selectors Dave Billings, who again teams up with him, and Paddy Canning.

Caffrey was thrust into the spotlight unexpectedly during Lyons's first season in charge. Having win Leinster for the first time in seven years, Dublin faced Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final. On the weekend of the match Lyons was taken ill and admitted to hospital.

In the manager's absence Caffrey took over on the line as Dublin scrambled to a draw before winning the replay easily, by which stage Lyons had recovered.

The draw caught Caffrey in a personal dilemma, as he had to forego a family holiday in Spain to stay with the panel between the draw and replay.

"Organisation and attention to detail are his main strengths," according to one well disposed source.

"He's very good at the practical end of things like coaching, having worked at all levels."

On the negative side there is a sense among some players that the new start they felt was desirable has not materialised with the re-appointment of two of Lyons's management team. Furthermore there has been friction between Caffrey and some of his former charges at Na Fianna.

The main factor was the discontent amongst club members at the perceived harsh treatment of Na Fianna players at the hands of the last management. It has been alleged that Caffrey didn't do enough to protect those interests.

Whereas it is wholly admirable that county selectors don't carry sectional baggage, the problem in this case was that there was genuine controversy over whether the players, Jason Sherlock, Senan Connell and Dessie Farrell, should be included at various stages.

As one club source puts it: "He would have been well aware of how well they were playing and yet didn't seem to be pushing them. Maybe he was making a lot of noise behind closed doors but the feeling was that he wasn't. There was a lot of surprise at how quiet he was because he would always have been seen as a main man, a boss figure."

In Caffrey's defence is the fact that his position in the last management was slightly awkward. Even if he was assistant manager, it was Lyons's show. Now with the position his own, Caffrey has the opportunity to make his mark on the job.