Niall Scully not expecting any more Dublin retirements 

The vastly experienced Dean Rock was the latest departure from Dessie Farrell's panel. 

TRUE BLUE: Dublin footballer Niall Scully ahead of the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Final against Longford. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Niall Scully is confident there'll be no more retirement announcements from Dublin following Dean Rock's departure.

Eight-time All-Ireland winner Rock confirmed this week that he's quitting, following fellow attacker Ryan Basquel into retirement.

Long-serving defender David Byrne won't be available this year either due to an extended travel break.

Boss Dessie Farrell said he's waiting on updates from the rest of his veteran stars with Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons and James McCarthy falling into that category.

Scully, who turns 30 this year, will definitely be back and will feature in tomorrow's Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup final against Longford in Portlaoise.

"I haven't heard of any more," said half-forward Scully of potential retirement announcements. "I'd imagine, as far as I'm aware, that should be it."

Free-taker Rock will still leave big boots to fill.

The Ballymun man was limited to an impact sub role in last year's Championship but still kicked the insurance point in the All-Ireland final defeat of Kerry.

Scully said that while Rock will be remembered for his kicking from frees and 45s, he was a gifted forward too.

"He was incredibly smart," said the Templeogue man. "We'd always be saying, 'Deano on the loop'. He'd just be casually moving along and then there would be a quick run around the ball carrier on the loop and a slot-shot.

"I think people always remember Dean for the 2017 kick, against Mayo, but I'd remember him for the Kerry equaliser in 2019, that's how I would have seen him and how most of the lads would have seen him.

"The free-kicks were just an addition to what he could do. Even in terms of a goal-scorer, always in the big games he'd be at the end of a goal. His movement was incredible and I think his bravery and the courage he showed throughout the time he played for Dublin, like, he never shied away from a shot and was always the man you'd give the ball to in the last couple of minutes of any big game."

Rock's retirement means that Cormac Costello will finally be seen as the number one free-taker.

"He's definitely of the same standard of where Dean is at," said Scully of Costello. "I wouldn't see too many issues there."

As for the drain of experience from the Dubs dressing-room with Rock and Byrne now absent, Scully shrugged.

The five-time All-Ireland winner said: "It's not that you're forgotten about in six weeks' time but it's a case of the train continues to move. It's just an opportunity for somebody else to take the reins."

Farrell is currently assessing all his options in the Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup. Dublin have used 26 different players, largely rookies, in wins over Offaly and Wexford so far. Scully is one of the few with Championship experience.

The former All-Star said of tomorrow's pre-season decider: "In the broader scheme of things, it's not going to be something at the end of the year, or at the end of your career, that you're going to look at.

"But for me, it's always been a huge platform for me to progress in my own Dublin career. Like that, there are going to be two or three players at the moment that are in the same boat and are probably going to see National League game time."