Whelan still dreams of helping Dublin to end 13 years of dismay
He knows that if he was a boxer, he would have been tempted to throw in the towel after about 15 minutes of the second half.
It was a black day for the team and their supporters, another nail in the coffin for a proud county which has striven continually to reach the Holy Grail. Not since 1995, under the management of former star Pat O’Neill has the Sam Maguire Cup rested in the capital.
And, it was a bridge too far for Paul Caffrey, who promptly announced his resignation at the post-match press conference.
For the record, Tyrone won the game by a margin of 12 points, (3-14 to 1-8). Both Harte and Caffrey agreed afterwards that the early departure of key Dublin forward Alan Brogan (injured after only five minutes), combined with the timing of Tyrone’s second goal, were crucial factors in determining the outcome.
Tyrone were on a high from the time player-of-the-year Sean Cavanagh goaled in the 26th minute, while Dublin were virtually rudderless until Conal Keaney put the ball in the net minutes before the half-time whistle. But, within two minutes of the resumption, Tyrone negatived that — through Joe McMahon.
The effect, winning captain Brian Dooher aptly remarked later was ‘to take the wind out of Dublin’s sails’ and when another goal went in about 10 minutes later, the game was dead as a contest.
While a lot of people would argue that the loss of Brogan caused the team to implode, Whelan’s view is that no single factor led to it happening. “It was just a horrific day,” he commented. “Five minutes into the second half the team was like being knocked out in a boxing match........ Tyrone in all fairness were worthy All-Ireland champions and they performed very well on the day.
“We have reviewed it, talked about it and put it to bed. That is all you can do — and hopefully learn from the mistakes going forward.”
Whatever about the desolation he experienced that day, Whelan, now 33, admits that he thought long and hard about coming back. He had to balance his family and job obligations against “the huge commitment’’ required. The reason he decided to throw in his lot with the squad for another season — this will be his 14th — was precisely because he was prepared to give the commitment. And because he has the support of his wife!
More significantly, perhaps, he also continues to believe that the team has the potential to win the All-Ireland.
“You have got to believe that. If you don’t there’s no point in being here. We have four Leinster championships and I’d like to think the Dublin team is in a better place now than it was at the end of the last decade. I lost four Leinster finals before I won four. We had a bad day against Tyrone but we’d be hoping to improve on last year and there’s fierce competition for places within the team.”
Conscious of that, he is determined to play an active role in the team over the course of the Allianz Football League, which opens with the much-hyped game with Tyrone under lights in Croke Park next Saturday. Keeping his other eye on the championship and accepting that, at his age he has to work harder every year to keep his place, his aim is to be in peak physical condition by early summer.
That’s something he accepts that didn’t manage last year, resulting from the fact that an eight-week suspension imposed after the incidents in the controversial League game against Meath in Parnell Park sidelined him.
“It didn’t allow for ideal preparation for the championship,’’ he explains. “Hopefully I’ll get a bit more game time in the League and be in a better place come the summer.”
While recognising that the appointment of a new management team under ‘95 medal-winner Pat Gilroy has brought ‘‘a freshness’’ to proceedings, Whelan is quick to credit Caffrey and his co-selectors for ‘‘doing a fantastic job.. Every manager has new ideas and things change. Sometimes a change can be as good as a rest.’’
If there is one single aspect of the squad which gives him encouragement it’s the belief that the younger players who have been introduced in the last few years have a lot to offer. “For anyone who comes into inter-county football it takes a good 12 months to adapt to it. There is a lot of talent around the place and there is still the fulcrum of the 2003 All-Ireland winning (under-21) team there. And, there is certainly plenty of competition for places, including my own position in the middle of the park. That’s good. It’s healthy.’’
He recognises, too, that if Dublin are to progress further this year they will have to be able to measure up to Tyrone’s standard and that of Kerry, agreeing that they remain the yardstick for allcomers. “Kerry will always be knocking around and for Tyrone to have won three All-Irelands in the last six years is a remarkable achievement.
“They have set the bar for everybody. We have got to step up to the mark now.’’
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