STEPHEN CLUXTON is understood to be considering his inter-county future after a meeting in recent days with Dublin manager Jim Gavin. Cluxton met with Gavin and gave no assurances that he would make himself available in 2013.
Dublin's 2011 All-Ireland winning hero has been first choice goalkeeper since 2002 and even thoughts of retirement by the Parnells man would come as a shock to many.
Gavin is in the midst of putting the finishing touches to his 2013 squad and Cluxton's reluctance to commit has come as a bolt from the blue. There is still confidence, however, that he will not turn his back on what has already been a glorious inter- county career.
NEWS: BRYAN CULLEN will be surrendering the Dublin football captaincy as he takes a more extended break from the game, with Diarmuid Connolly emerging as one of the frontrunners to take over for the 2013 season.
While Ballymun Kickhams are celebrating their first Dublin football title in 27 years, they don't get to nominate the county captaincy – as is the tradition in most other counties. Instead, the choice will be made by new Dublin manager Jim Gavin, and Connolly, one of Dublin's best forwards in recent seasons, is being lined up as the likely replacement.
"No, our county champions don't nominate the captaincy," explained Dublin chairman Andy Kettle, "and I don't know if that tradition has ever been in Dublin.
"It will be decided by Jim Gavin, and his management team, although I'm not aware of any nomination yet. Jim hasn't even met the players as a group yet, only talked with a few individuals."
Kettle suggested that Dublin might actually appoint a temporary captain, at least for the O'Byrne Cup competition in January, as it could be as late as March before Gavin has the pick of his full panel.
Cullen will definitely be taking a more extended break from the game, as he's getting married on January 1st, and although only 28, the 2011 All-Ireland winning captain won't be rushing back into action until well into the league campaign, or possibly even later.
"That's what it's looking like," said Kettle, "with a few players taking a break or still out with injury. It is something we have looked at, and reckon it could be Dublin's league match against Mayo, in early March, before the full panel is available, when you consider the Sigerson Cup will also be happening up until then."
For Ballymun Kickhams, who claimed their first Dublin football title since 1985 on Monday evening, beating Kilmacud Crokes by a single point, there is still likely to be greater representation on Gavin's panel for 2013. Dean Rock, who was dropped from the panel prior to this year's Leinster championship, is a virtual certainty for 2013 after hitting 0-7 in that final.
So far however Paul Casey looks like being the only major retirement this year, after he announced his intention to step aside this weekend, after 11 seasons on the panel.
Whatever about Clucko retiring surely that rumour re Connolly is nonsense??? I'd never have seen him as captain material
Dublin's 2011 All-Ireland winning hero has been first choice goalkeeper since 2002 and even thoughts of retirement by the Parnells man would come as a shock to many.
Gavin is in the midst of putting the finishing touches to his 2013 squad and Cluxton's reluctance to commit has come as a bolt from the blue. There is still confidence, however, that he will not turn his back on what has already been a glorious inter- county career.
NEWS: BRYAN CULLEN will be surrendering the Dublin football captaincy as he takes a more extended break from the game, with Diarmuid Connolly emerging as one of the frontrunners to take over for the 2013 season.
While Ballymun Kickhams are celebrating their first Dublin football title in 27 years, they don't get to nominate the county captaincy – as is the tradition in most other counties. Instead, the choice will be made by new Dublin manager Jim Gavin, and Connolly, one of Dublin's best forwards in recent seasons, is being lined up as the likely replacement.
"No, our county champions don't nominate the captaincy," explained Dublin chairman Andy Kettle, "and I don't know if that tradition has ever been in Dublin.
"It will be decided by Jim Gavin, and his management team, although I'm not aware of any nomination yet. Jim hasn't even met the players as a group yet, only talked with a few individuals."
Kettle suggested that Dublin might actually appoint a temporary captain, at least for the O'Byrne Cup competition in January, as it could be as late as March before Gavin has the pick of his full panel.
Cullen will definitely be taking a more extended break from the game, as he's getting married on January 1st, and although only 28, the 2011 All-Ireland winning captain won't be rushing back into action until well into the league campaign, or possibly even later.
"That's what it's looking like," said Kettle, "with a few players taking a break or still out with injury. It is something we have looked at, and reckon it could be Dublin's league match against Mayo, in early March, before the full panel is available, when you consider the Sigerson Cup will also be happening up until then."
For Ballymun Kickhams, who claimed their first Dublin football title since 1985 on Monday evening, beating Kilmacud Crokes by a single point, there is still likely to be greater representation on Gavin's panel for 2013. Dean Rock, who was dropped from the panel prior to this year's Leinster championship, is a virtual certainty for 2013 after hitting 0-7 in that final.
So far however Paul Casey looks like being the only major retirement this year, after he announced his intention to step aside this weekend, after 11 seasons on the panel.
Whatever about Clucko retiring surely that rumour re Connolly is nonsense??? I'd never have seen him as captain material
