Cooper is done already, can’t see him starting next year.
Small (28),Mannion, Fenton and Kilkenny (27) are in the primes of their career. Rock is a guy who is really only there for his free taking ability so age doesn’t really matter. McCarthy is the only key outfield starting player in his 30s in that Dublin team.
If you contrast that with Dublin’s closest rivals.
Kerry have the likes of Moran, Geaney, Crowley, O’Brien and a few others now the wrong side of this year.
Mayo have Keegan, McLoughlin, O’Shea and Doherty in their 30s now. They have lost two starters from the AI final last month already.
Donegal have McGee, McGrath and Murphy the wrong side of 30.
Tyrone have Harte, Donnelly, McNamee, McCann all the wrong side of 30 now.
So effectively Dublin are in no worse shape than last year, they won’t lose any starters or key players off last year’s team.
Has Dessie forgot McMenanamen is still on the panel?
It could be like the time Steve Coppell was walking around the Man City training grounds about a month into the job and stumbled across Eddie McGoldrick. Steve had no idea Eddie was at the Club.
Already up to his tits in the shambles that was Man City, this was the straw that broke the camels back for Steve and he was gone within days.