Ciarán Kilkenny has acknowledged that former All Star and seven-time All-Ireland winner John Small is “very unlikely” to return to Dublin colours this season.
“Yeah, it’s unlikely John’s going to be back with us this year. A good friend of mine, he knows more than anything that the door is open for him there but it’s very unlikely that he’s going to be back this year.”
Kilkenny, the longest serving outfield player on the Dublin panel in the wake of recent retirements, is in his 14th year with the county, and reflected on the loss of Small, whose brother Paddy has returned to training.
“John is an absolute powerful specimen, an absolute powerhouse. He could nullify a key forward and then go up to pitch and clip a couple of scores or get a goal or make a couple of big offensive plays.
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“He offered so much in terms of his attitude, his mindset and underrated foot skills. He has incredible foot skills and control of the ball. John will be missed but, look, it’s a good opportunity for another player to step up.”
This has been a season of fundamental change for Dublin with the departure of such imposing names as captain James McCarthy, Brian Fenton, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey and Michael Fitzsimons.
There is, of course, fundamental change for all counties in the football league with the trialling of the Football Review Committee rule changes or enhancements. Kilkenny is enthusiastic about the project.
“Yeah, I’d be positive around the rules. I feel like it’s created great discussion, great debate around different things. The games have been very competitive. They’ve been very exciting.
“Obviously the big thing is when you’re playing in grounds which have significant breezes that teams are getting massive leads on other teams. But as we’ve seen teams are able to peg each other back if they’re fortunate enough to get a lot of the two-pointers.”
Dublin have seen both sides of that equation, recovering a 12-point deficit against Kerry in Tralee when a Kilkenny two-pointer closed the gap to three with 12 minutes remaining. At the weekend, though, despite an unanswered 1-8 against Armagh, they were unable to bridge a 15-point gap.
He was asked had he been working on them.
“If you’re able to get a couple of those two-pointers it just creates massive momentum for your team. I suppose every team is practising them at the moment.”
Despite a very successful season in 2018 as an inside forward when he was top scorer from play in the championship, the game he is most associated with is big-engine running and what at times looks an infinite capacity to process possessions.
The new rules create more contests for the ball with the requirement that the ball travel outside the 40-metre arc and with just 11 players allowed cover the whole field, there have been concerns expressed that the resulting greater workload is causing fatigue. Kilkenny sounds a slightly sceptical note.
“For me I’d say I haven’t really delved into the data too much, but I’d imagine it’s similar enough. But the big thing, I would say, is that there’s a lot more physical contests, just in terms of the ball going out long from kickouts. So because of that there’s probably a lot more collisions and a lot more physical contests in relation to that. So that’s probably the most noticeable thing.”
Would he like to see that provision varied? Has it returned football to a game for mullockers?
“Yeah, I’m a mullocker myself, so I don’t really mind too much. But, no, it would be one thing to have a discussion and conversation around it. I think Jim and the FRC are doing that. They’re talking to everyone as much as possible, and making the best decision possible for everyone.”
He believes though that the game is heading in the right direction. “I think that the feedback I’m getting from supporters and even in my school – in my school we have a lot of GAA supporters. There’s great discussion; there’s great talk; there’s great dialogue around the game and great dialogue around the rules.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the league. I’ve loved my football more than ever, so for me it’s definitely a positive. Are there tweaks that need to be done? I’d imagine so, but the lads will look at them, I suppose.”
As the last of his generation – the 1993s – still standing, his role has evolved into mentoring.
“For me I love the responsibility of being that little bit older – it’s my 14th season – to be a mentor and a support for the younger players, and try and impart any experience or wisdom I have to help them. Then in the future, when the time does come, I’ll be there in the stand. I would love to still have that connection with those players, seeing them playing.”
Ciarán Kilkenny was speaking as 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic ambassador. Tickets for the match between Kansas State University and Iowa State University this August are now on sale at Ticketmaster.ie
