GAELIC GAMES:SO THE least unexpected reappointment of the season is now complete after Pat Gilroy last night agreed to stay in charge of the Dublin senior footballers for 2012.
However, rather than the two-year extension that was anticipated, Gilroy has only agreed to stay on for one more year – at least for the time being – as outlined in a brief statement issued by the Dublin county board last night, following a meeting in Parnell Park.
“The Dublin County Committee reappointed Pat Gilroy as manager of the Dublin senior football team for the 2012 season. Pat will finalise his management team when activity resumes in January.”
Although this will see Gilroy through to the end of 2012, it does cast some doubt about his future beyond that. The St Vincent’s club man officially finished his original three-year tenure in September, after guiding the county to their first All-Ireland title since 1995 – and despite plenty of speculation about his exact intentions ever since, it soon appeared inevitable he would continue, as any decision to the contrary would almost certainly have been made before now.
But Gilroy, who turned 40 last Thursday, had a few obstacles to overcome before committing to 2012, including his family and work commitments.
County chairman Andy Kettle confirmed the county board were only meeting to agree Gilroy’s appointment, and final agreement on his selectors would be made at a later date, entirely at Gilroy’s discretion.
“It’s only Gilroy’s reappointment at the meeting,” said Kettle. “It’s Pat, and Pat only, that we’re talking about at the moment, not his backroom team.
“If it was negative it would be a different ball game and not something I’d be looking forward to in November. Because Plan B is thin on the ground. There are ramifications in that the under-21s need a manager and you cannot ask anybody to take it because the people who would be in the front-line for that, if Pat didn’t take it, would then consider themselves prime candidates for the top job.”
Gilroy has already met the players to assess their desire to defend their Leinster and All-Ireland crowns and, naturally, there was overwhelming support within the group for him to return.
The most pressing issue about his backroom team, it seems, is the return of selector Mickey Whelan, himself a former Dublin manager, who is on record stating he will not be part of the management in 2012. David Hickey is expected to continue as a selector, although there are still some doubts about the exact intentions of Paddy O’Donoghue, Gilroy’s third selector.
Barry Cahill, one of Gilroy’s All-Ireland winning players, reckons Whelan might yet reconsider his decision to step aside as a Dublin selector: “I think within the squad everyone would be hopeful that players-wise and management-wise everyone would be there next year,” says Cahill, who on Sunday also helped his club, St Brigid’s, to the Dublin club title.
“At the moment, Mickey Whelan is not involved but that might change maybe in the New Year.”
Also ending the season on an extra high was Dublin captain Bryan Cullen, who helped Skerries Harps win the Dublin intermediate title on Sunday, thanks to a late, late winner over Cuala.
Meanwhile it’s been confirmed Dublin’s team holiday to the Cayman Islands and San Diego will take place later this month, with Gilroy and Sam Maguire expected to join them on their last adventure of 2011.
