Former Leitrim and Dublin star Declan Darcy has joined the capital’s under 21 football management set-up for 2009.

Darcy, along with Shane O’Hanlon and Jim Brogan, will make up manager Jim Gavin’s backroom team. Darcy worked alongside Gavin with the under 21s in 2002 when the team won a Leinster title before losing heavily to Galway in the All-Ireland final at Portlaoise.

O’Hanlon, who was one of St. Vincent’s selectors in their All-Ireland club success earlier this year, has been involved with Dublin underage teams at various levels, while Brogan is the only remaining member of last year’s backroom team.

Dublin were defeated by a point in the first round of this year’s Leinster under 21 championship by a Kildare team that went on to contest the All-Ireland final against Kerry. Next year, they will meet Louth in the first round with the winners qualifying for a quarter-final showdown with Meath, who will be managed by Colm O’Rourke and Trevor Giles.

Before that though, Gavin will take charge of a Dublin selection made up of under 21 players and some senior players for their opening O’Byrne Cup clash with Offaly on January 4 as the senior management will be away in Spain on a training camp.