When certain bookmakers suspended betting on Pat Gilroy becoming the next Dublin hurling manager in mid-August, the Dublin county board were quick to dismiss such speculation.
However, with all of Dublin's inter-county commitments for 2017 now complete, the 2011 All-Ireland winning manager with Dublin's footballers is seemingly set for a change of code.
According to the Herald's Frank Roche, an appointment is set to be announced in the "coming days", with all the likelihood of it being former All-Ireland winning football manager Pat Gilroy.
In an effort to appease those who feel Gilroy's predominant experience with Gaelic football will not be sufficient for Dublin hurling, former Galway manager Anthony Cunningham looks set to join Gilroy in a coaching capacity.
Cunningham, who twice lifted the Liam MacCarthy cup as a player, and subsequently led the Tribesmen to All-Ireland finals in 2012 and 2015, would provide a wealth of experience to the county set up.
While Gilroy's hurling experience may be limited, the Dublin county board may well look to the transformative work the St Vincent's man did with the footballers in 2011 and hope he replicates such dynamism with their lagging hurlers.
Furthermore, given Gilroy's standing within Dublin football, there is a possibility that certain capable hurlers currently on the fringe of Jim Gavin's panel may reconsider their commitments.
Pat Gilroy taking the Dubs senior hurlers lethal, success breeds success
— Tiernan (@tiernanmcg98) September 26, 2017
Although Dublin hurling had appeared to make a breakthrough during Anthony Daly's six-year reign in charge, they have not since replicated their All-Ireland semi-final appearance of 2013.
After it was announced that Daly was to leave his position within the Limerick hurling academy late last month, there was much expectation that the Clare man could be set for a return to the capital.
This however no longer seems like it will be the case.
With the Dublin county board remaining quiet on the likelihood of this Gilroy/Cunningham ticket securing the position, the Dublin chairman has announced that there will be news 'before the end of the week.'
Since Daly's departure, Dublin hurling has really struggled. There was a clash of personalities between manager Ger Cunningham and a lot of the players, a shocking number of whom left the county panel during his three year reign. Among them, the likes of Danny Sutcliffe are still young enough to make an impact on the inter county scene and gathering a full squad will be the first order of business for the new management team if Dublin are to be competitive again.
Allied to that, one wonders if the respect Gilroy holds among the Dublin GAA fraternity will help convince some of the fringe players of the Dublin football panel to throw their hand in with the hurlers.
Should the appointment come to pass, many will be looking to the 2018 Leinster hurling championship with particular fervour - Cunningham was ignominiously ousted from his roll within Galway hurling after a player heave two years ago.
With Kilkenny and Davy Fitzgerald's Wexford also looking to the year ahead with points to prove, a revitalised Dublin would be very welcome indeed.
SEE ALSO: Ex-Player Michael Carton Opens Up On The "Toxic" Atmosphere In Dublin Hurling
