Irish Sunday Mirror

Let’s wait and see.. the mood music is positive

FARRELL HOPEFUL ON DUB HEROES STAYING ON BUT BYRNE IS OUT FOR YEAR

- BY PAUL KEANE

STEPHEN CLUXTON and Dublin’s troupe of veteran stars are still part of Dessie Farrell’s panel – for now.

The Dubs boss confirmed after their O’byrne Cup quarter-final win that his elder statesmen are still making up their minds about 2024 but said the ‘mood music is positive’.

That’ll be music to the ears of Dublin fans who desperatel­y want goalkeeper Cluxton, All-ireland winning captain James Mccarthy and the likes of Dean Rock and Mick Fitzsimons to give it another year.

One player who definitely won’t be back in blue in 2024 is experience­d corner-back David Byrne.

The eight-time All-ireland winner is taking the season out to travel while Ryan Basquel, older brother of All-star Colm, has retired from county duty.

Farrell gave the update after watching his side come from behind to beat Offaly in Gracefield – securing a semi-final clash at home to Wexford next weekend.

Farrell said of his elder players’ plans: “We’re still waiting to see with some of them. The mood music is positive. We’ll be having the relevant conversati­ons. So for most of them, it sounds good but there may be one or two that decide to opt out. But they’ll have another few weeks to make that decision.”

Byrne’s departure will surprise supporters. At just 29, and with eight All-ireland medals already collected, he was a dark horse to potentiall­y emerge as the most successful player ever. Farrell said: “David Byrne has gone travelling, he’s in Australia and won’t be participat­ing in the Championsh­ip this year. That’s been on the cards for a while.

“I’d have been surprised if we’d carried everyone forward from last year. That’s why games like this are important because it’s all about trying to keep the squad competitiv­e.”

Substitute Shane O’leary from St Vincent’s kicked what proved to be the winning point for Dublin in the 68th minute.

It was a largely developmen­t group that Farrell picked from with Brian O’leary, one of the few with Championsh­ip experience, shooting 0-4 and top scoring.

Dublin brought 23 players to the Gracefield club grounds in Portarling­ton for the quarter-final and all of them got a run.

Subs like Killian Mcginnis made a big impact and the Skerries man chipped in two points as Dublin came from behind to win.

Hosts Offaly led 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time and looked set to record back-to-back wins after their midweek defeat of Laois.

They stretched the lead to five points with a Cian Farrell score after the restart but a strong second-half from Dublin and 0-4 from their subs edged it.

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 ?? ?? HAPPY BLUE YEAR Offaly’s Cormac Egan tries to block shot from Ben Millist of Dublin and, above, Stephen Cluxton
HAPPY BLUE YEAR Offaly’s Cormac Egan tries to block shot from Ben Millist of Dublin and, above, Stephen Cluxton

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