Inside Track with John McIntyre

The 2025 All-Ireland football senior football championship looks set to be the most open in well over a decade. Even the bookmakers are nearly going 3/1 the field, with Kerry, Dublin, Galway, Donegal and reigning title holders Armagh leading the pursuit of the Sam Maguire Cup.

Dublin have cast a long shadow over the football championship by winning seven of the last ten All-Ireland titles – they were nearly untouchable, but that monopoly has finally been broken and uncertain times lay ahead for Dessie Farrell’s team considering the recent retirements of two of the greatest footballers of any generation.

34-year-old James McCarthy called time on a brilliant career in the Autumn. With 14 Leinster titles, nine All-Ireland medals, five National Leagues and five All-Stars in the bag, it sums up the massive contribution this athletic half-back/midfielder made to the Dublin cause during an era when they achieved a record-breaking six All-Ireland titles on the trot.

With doubts about the playing futures of great warriors such as Michael Fitzsimons, Jack McCaffrey, the Small brothers, Stephen Cluxton and Paul Mannion, the last thing Dublin would have needed was the bombshell retirement of midfielder and twice Footballer of the Year, Brian Fenton, last week.

His career stats in the Dublin jersey are staggering. He never lost a match in the Leinster championship, captured seven All-Ireland medals, 10 provincial titles, four National Leagues and six All-Stars awards. He also picked up numerous man of the match accolades.

Though only 31, Fenton has called time on legendary 10-year innings in the Dublin colours. The towering midfielder will be an incalculable loss to the team, but he is getting out close to the peak of his powers. He has done it all and this year’s All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Galway was, remarkably, only the third defeat he suffered defeat in a championship match.

The changing of the guard in Dublin opens the door for the rest, but which teams are best equipped to take advantage? Naturally, Kerry will be shortlisted even if David Clifford’s form nosedived during the past 12 months – the legacy of demanding schedule which perhaps saw him play too much football in his formative seasons at the top level.

Pictured: Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry team manager Mattie Kenny shows his delight at the final whistle in Saturday’s Connacht Club Intermediate Hurling Final at Hyde Park. Photo: Joe Keane.