Whelan confirms Dublin exit

MICKEY WHELAN has confirmed he will not be part of Dublin’s backroom team for their All-Ireland SFC title defence.

The veteran coach stepped down in the wake of their first September success in 16 years and manager Pat Gilroy vowed he wouldn’t “bully” his fellow St Vincent’s man back into the fold.

“It’s time for me to move on,” confirmed Whelan at the Philips Sports Manager of the Year awards yesterday. “I’m 72 and there’s young people ready to come in.”

Gilroy is in touch with Whelan a number of times a week and it seems inevitable that such contact will be maintained between the two men whose sporting links stretch back four decades. Whelan believes the team Gilroy has assembled is capable of delivering further success.

“There are three or four teams in with a chance all the time. You need a break and if you get a break you can take it and that’s what we did. They are a phenomenal young team and given their age profile they are very strong. There are capable of winning the All-Ireland again. Whether they do it this year or next year they are capable of it.”