Dublin and Dessie Farrell appear to be in serious trouble. The once indomitable Dubs have now fallen to three consecutive league defeats for the first time in over 20 years, after a comfortable win for Mayo in Croke Park on Saturday night.
Though he appeared bruised by the form of his team, Farrell nonetheless attempted to focus on the positives in his post-match interview with DubsTV.
Dessie Farrell: Dublin manager focusing on the positives despite poor form
Dessie Farrell always had his work cut out for him when he arrived as Dublin manager, replacing the great Jim Gavin in charge. Though he led the Dubs to an All-Ireland title in his first year as manager, the tale has now changed in tone.
After a home defeat to Mayo on Saturday night put Dublin dangerously on the verge of relegation, Farrell spoke to DubsTV. He surprisingly led with the few positives from the Mayo defeat, showing that he has not quite given in to panic just yet.
It's disappointing. We're on the back of a string of poor results. On the face of it, that doesn't look great. On the same token, we're very happy with some of what's happening for us, some aspects of our performance, some things that we've been trying out.
We're seeing ourselves make progress, we're also trying out and experimenting with new players, giving youth a fling and giving it a chance. Some of it is out of necessity because of injuries to senior players, but at the start of the season that was always the plan for us anyway, to try some fresh emerging talent, and we've been given the opportunity to do that.
On the face of it, results are poor, that's for sure, and we have to do better - but there are some positives to take from it as well, and we just keep learning as we go and try to apply those key learnings from games and performances and bring them to the next game.
It has been a dire start to the season for Dublin. Home losses to Armagh and Mayo, alongside an anonymous performance in Tralee against Kerry, have them staring down the barrel of Division Two league football next year.
"A disappointing result. On the face of it, results are poor, but there are some positives to take from it as well..."
Dessie Farrell speaks to DubsTV following the Allianz League defeat to Mayo at Croke Park this evening.
Chat in full ➡️ https://t.co/EQDThFsNbq#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/reaSwj5l5Z— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) February 19, 2022
Farrell acknowledged the sluggish start to the season, and seemed to suggest that the ever-changing complexion of the Dublin squad was creating some of the issues on the pitch.
We're definitely lacking a little bit of cohesion, that can come from different players, different dynamics going on in the dressing room, some players trying to get up to speed and maybe some of the senior players overcompensating as well and doing things they wouldn't normally do.
We're definitely lacking cohesion, and that's something that we need to work on. We have a bit of time to do that, and we need to do it. We will do it.
The Dublin squad has taken a battering in recent years. Stephen Cluxton, Bernard Brogan, Philly McMahon, Kevin McManamon and Michael Darragh Macauley have all retired in the past three years, and the effects of their departures are clearly being felt.
It's no surprise, then, that Dessie Farrell was thrilled to see some of his experienced players return against Mayo. The returns of Michael Fitzsimons and Johnny Cooper will be very isolated positives for Farrell against the disappointment of Saturday's defeat.
Great to see those senior lads [Mick Fitzsimons and Johnny Cooper] back and hopefully in the coming weeks we'll have a few more back. It's a great opportunity for those younger lads to play in Croke Park against really competitive teams like Mayo. That's where you'll do all your learning.
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