Dublin missed Rory O’Carroll sorely this summer but still found a way to clinch the Sam Maguire.
Jim Gavin had to re-jig his defence after the Kilmacud Crokes man set off for New Zealand with his girlfriend.
The 26-year-old has three All-Ireland winners’ medals to his name and told the Irish Examiner in February that he could be away from Ireland for ‘six months or six years’. There is no set return date. He commented:
“I’m open to the idea I could play again and I’m open to the idea I may never play again. I’ll see how it goes.”
After a stint in Chicago, O’Carroll and his girlfriend have touched down in the Land of the Long White Cloud. They are finding their feet, 20,000 kilometres from home.
Kilmacud and Dublin teammate Paul Mannion spoke to reporters on Monday, providing an update on O’Carroll that Dubs supporters may not like.
“As far as I understand, he won’t be back.
“He only arrived in New Zealand a few weeks back. He’s looking to get a job there now and he’s got his girlfriend there so he seems happy out. I don’t expect him to be back next year.
“We’d love to have him back and we all wish him well but he’s happy so that’s the most important thing.”
O’Carroll is expecting 2015 Footballer of the Year Jack McCaffrey to return to the panel next year, however. That is a pretty handy silver lining.
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