Dessie Farrell and Ciaran Whelan reckon it could be the end of an era for some Dublin players after their All-Ireland quarter final loss to Galway.
A Shane Walsh and Cillian McDaid inspired Galway inflicted a rare championship defeat on the Dubs who haven't reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
A host of retirements were predicted after last year's All-Ireland final win over Kerry but barring Dean Rock, the rest of Dublin's old guard stayed on.
Speaking on The Sunday Game, Dublin legend Whelan admitted that 'we probably will lose two or three, there's no doubt about it.'
Stephen Cluxton (42), Michael Fitzsimons (35) and James McCarthy (34) are among Dublin's more experienced players, with nine All-Ireland titles each, and there is inevitably speculation surrounding their futures.
29 June 2024; James McCarthy of Dublin dejected after his side's defeat the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Dublin and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
"Last year's All-Ireland was such a massive victory," said Whelan.
"It really endorsed the work that Dessie had done after the Covid All-Ireland. They got such a lift out of it, there was huge momentum within the group to try and push on again, so everybody kind of stayed.
"Last year it was deemed ‘one more year’, but they all came back.
"There's guys and there's legends in that dressing room that have tons of medals and have emptied the tank for Dublin. "
The end of an era for Dublin? Ciaran Whelan fears that defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final could signal the end of the road for several players and possible even Dessie Farrell. pic.twitter.com/DSVyVm4w5w
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"Even Dessie, you know, I think there was probably a bit of persuasion last year for him to give one more year. He might consider his future, so there could be a lot of change," admitted Whelan.
Meanwhile, manager Farrell hinted that he will consider his own future after the loss.
"I’m sure many of the players will have a think about their own futures as well."
"It could be an end of an era for some of those Dublin players," he said. "I’m not going to pre-empt anything, but if it is, they have been wonderful servants and they died with their boots on.
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"We’ll all take stock and see where we are at.
"It was a disappointing finish to the season, but there is some room for hope and optimism for what lies in the future, whoever may be involved at that point in time."
