Dublin skip media duties after loss to Louth

Interim manager Dean Rock declined to speak with the media.

Dublin interim manager Dean Rock. Pic ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dublin interim manager Dean Rock chose not to speak to the media following Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 1 defeat to Louth.

Sources close to the county insisted it was not related to the GAA’s decision last week not to issue Donegal manager Jim McGuinness with a retrospective ban arising from last Saturday week’s win over Kerry in Killarney.

While McGuinness avoided a sanction for punishing Kerry player Diarmuid O’Connor at half-time, Dublin manager Ger Brennan continues to serve a 12-week ban after he was sent off in the final Division 1 game against Galway in Salthill.

Brennan was dismissed by referee Fergal Kelly for “any type of physical interference with an opposing player or team official” when he clashed with Galway coach Cian Breathnach-McGinn at half-time. He contested the ban all the way to the Disputes Resolution Authority but the penalty was upheld.

There is deep frustration in official Dublin football circles with the contrast in how Brennan and McGuinness have been treated. In the wake of the sanction, Dublin declined to send a player to the launch of the Leinster senior football championship in Naas in March.

It was explained to organisers at the time that nobody would be made available due to the ongoing disciplinary case against Brennan. It is also understood a player had been due to attend a commercial event around that time but was withdrawn for the same reason.

Rock has been fulfilling sideline and media duties in Brennan’s stead and spoke to journalists following the Leinster SFC wins over Wicklow and Louth as well as the extra-time provincial final defeat to Westmeath.

Brennan will be free to take the sideline in Dublin’s All-Ireland SFC Round 2B game providing the game takes place on Sunday, June 14 when his ban elapses.

However, those second round clashes are due to take place on Saturday and Sunday with the draw being made on Tuesday morning and fixture details expected to be confirmed later in the day.

Dublin can be drawn against any of the other seven teams on their side of the draw – Cavan, Derry, Kerry, Kildare, Meath, Monaghan and Roscommon.

Sunday’s loss to Louth was the fourth game Brennan has missed as part of his three-month suspension and he is also guaranteed to miss the county’s opening two Division 2 games in 2027.

Last Sunday, Clare manager Brian Lohan chose not to do interviews following his side’s Munster SHC final round defeat to Cork in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.