Pat Gilroy has been a God send for the Dubs. He turned them from innocent stylish no hopers to slick tactical winners in the space of six months which eventually led to an All Ireland. He owes the Dubs nothing. He has worked well with Jim Gavin and Dessie Farrell and the structures that are in place will ensure that the Dubs will be challenging for the next ten years at least.

However, is this the end for Gilroy? Last year it was touch and go whether or not he would fulfill his contract. He is a very busy and successful business man as well as a family man. Are the committments of an inter county manager too much for his hectic lifestyle? Will he walk (with his head held high)? If he does who would replace him him? Jim Gavin?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 03/09/2012 08:51:28    1257717

He will walk. Done a great job but I would think he has doubts about some of the players attitudes . Pat Gilroy is a straight talking no nonsense manager who says it as it is. Wish him all the best whatever decision he makes.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8489 - 03/09/2012 09:17:55    1257737

Pat has done himself proud.

He owes us nothing. I cant thank him enough for what he's done. He's put Dublin back on the map.

If I'm being honest I think it's Jim Gavins time. 3 AI U-21's to his name - it's a marvellous situation to be in to have a replacement of such calibre. I've watched a lot of his work at U-21 which I think produces some great games and he's very rarely been found wanting.

He knows the players very well and many of them have played under him. He plays a great style of ball too... you couldnt ask for a more perfect replacement.

I think it's his time.. I am very confident that we'll be seeing more silverware under Jim. We're in a fine position... some very talented young lads on the way.

They've a minor AI to win this year yet under Dessie and those same young lads will be stepping up into an already talented U-21 team

Jim is the man to bring these guys on.

Dublin GAA isnt going anywhere anytime soon. Pat Gilroy has set the standard and has done huge work on and off the pitch. He's a gentleman.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 03/09/2012 09:48:09    1257772

As much as I'd hate to see Pat Gilroy go, he has to do what's in the best interest of his family. Inter county management places huge demands on your time. If he does step down , I will wish him well and thanks him for transforming the Dublin team in the side that Won the AI last year. I always admired his no nonsense approach. In the media he was always a gentleman and did a lot to put the focus back on the football. As fans its easy to get carried away but you always knew with Pat there was a steady hand at the tiller.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 03/09/2012 10:02:56    1257791

i wont put the boot into pat gilroy as he brought us an all ireland and 3 leinster titles as much as i disagree with his tactics all summer he dlivered the all ireland title we desperatly wanted last year.if he goes it would be between dessie farrell and jim gavin on paper with maybe paddy christe and paul curran in the mix.
the disspointing thing was that pat waited till we were 10 points down to play an orthodox forward line yesterday i felt if he had of had the belief in th players from the start we would have won as we outscored them 9v2 when we played attacking style yesterday.next year i hope to see us play a more attacking game with a half forward line not picked to defend

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 03/09/2012 10:53:01    1257849

I suspect it is but he owes us nothing. He delivered an AI after 16 long years...but nobody can deny that game was lost for us on the line yst...Persisting with Fennell all championship was a terrible decision and playn MD Mc Auley out of position was very detremental to both player and team. Leavin the likes of Barry Cahill on the bench was not right either , also left it way too late to bring on Mc Menamin...youd just hope the team doesent start breakn up if Gilroy departs...which isnt unusual ...

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 03/09/2012 11:09:50    1257875

I is the end of Pat Gilroy!
Last year he said that it was for one more year only....regardless of winning or losing!!

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank him for what he has done and wish him all the best!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 03/09/2012 11:18:22    1257889

I think Pat will go.

And i would echo what others have said in that he owes us absolutely nothing. He achieved what we had all dreamed of by winning an all ireland , Yes this year we didnt do quite as well , But at the end of the day , it was always going to be hard to win back to back All ireland titles , I think the 20 minute spell in the second half summed up what he has instilled in this team, A much stronger mentality and attitude. Dublin teams of previous years would have let that 10 point lead go to 12 or 15 , but they showed bottle , determination and bravery to pull it back and where the kick of a ball from levelling the game. I know hypothetical talk is pointless , but If Brogan had of scored that one on one it would have been a draw. That just shows how close we made it in the end. So credit to Pat for instilling that attituide in the lads.

I agree with Jim , I too now think if PAt does decide to go that Jim Gavin should be given the oppertunity to take this side on. There is potential for another few all irelands and i really hope they keep most of that squad together..

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13656 - 03/09/2012 11:27:15    1257899

Dublin were strangely lacklustre this season, hard to put your finger on it but to me they seemed to be on autopilot when they are a better team than that for sure. Having said that they still comfortably reached another AI semi so that I suppose says something about them.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 03/09/2012 11:34:25    1257907

Brend - your spot on Dublin were on autopilot all this year - rarely got out of 3rd gear and management must take responsibility for failing to get more out of a talented group. I'd expect Gilroy to walk - players could do with a different voice I think. Playing MDMC at centre forward yesterday was a massive mistake - also Gilroy has failed to get any improvement/consistency out of the likes of Fennell/O Gara/connelly this year - they are the types of guys who need to be stepping up. Yesterday also showed the difference Alan Brogan makes - he was class in last years AI final and makes dublin tick.

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 03/09/2012 12:17:57    1257971

i dont agree on alan brogan being the big loss yes he is an important player but it was the style of dublins play this year that was the big problem.
persisting with 3 midfielders cost us and playing too defensive as a result of having a half forward picked with no real attacking threat.
17v7 behind 20 minutes to go gilroy threw off the shackles and played an orthodox forward line put mcmannoman and o gara in and mccauley to midfield and we outscored mayo 9v2 for that 20 minutes and had bernard goaled we would be in the final if only we played with an attacking style from the start

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 03/09/2012 12:27:48    1257986

Do you think Connolly's place in the squad could be in doubt if Gilroy were to go? Although he scored a couple from play yesterday he had a few bad misses especially in the first half and the goal chance in the second half. What do you reckon?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 03/09/2012 12:35:28    1257991

Look lads Gilroy delivered the all ireland that we had been waiting for 16 LONG years for. I cant thank him enough for it. He owes us nothing. The man is a hero. BUT...... we have to call a spade a spade here. The man, in my opinion, got his tactics wrong all year. Simple as. I would have to agree with what hill16no1man has been saying all year.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 03/09/2012 12:36:35    1257994

I sincerely hope Pat stays. Primarily because there is another All Ireland in the current team. Theres an issue or two to be solved in midfield but Dublin will be close again next year. The All Ireland once again has proved to a near impossible title to defend. The last team to do it was Kerry with an exceptional team. However, this Dublin side is very young and will be back. Certain things didn't go for us this year.

Congrats to Mayo, deserved winners without a doubt. But McQuillan was got to. He really rode Dublin at times with some awful calls. Its not sour taste nor an indication of why we lost but its a necessary point. There was also a large element of gamesmanship by Mayo players in the amount of time they wasted. All teams do this and again this is not sour grapes but the time should of been added on at the end. Simple as.

Without exaggeration there should of been a minimum of 8-10 minutes added time yesterday. One collision alone between O'Gara and a Mayo player took 5 minutes to resolve and yet that was all that was allowed.

In the end, our lads did themselves and the jersey proud in the manner of an unlikely comeback that nearly came off. But if you go behind by 10 points in a AI semi final you cannot expect to win. I wish Mayo the best of luck in the final and i hope they win. But i must add that Mayo seriously ran out of steam in the final 15 minutes. Considering this year that Donegal look better primed than Dublin i can only see Sam going north. But for the sake of football and good grace to the team that beat us i hope Mayo prevail.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 03/09/2012 12:54:08    1258020

Seany16 MCquillan rode us in last years final with a saddle on yesterday a few Dublin
players should have seen red. He refs yer AVB games in training Dublin where never
going to get a red

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 03/09/2012 13:08:40    1258053

That line about Dublin's A v B games has been denied all parties and really Horan shouldn't have entertained the idea in the first place which is what allowed it to grow legs. It's not true so why keep repeating it?
link

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 03/09/2012 14:00:56    1258124

Thanks doublehop. Another example of Maigh Eo's synicism. This is another low. I am not saying the ref had any bearing on the result but this sort of crap belongs in soccer not the GAA - just like Maigh Eo's diving. This is sickening. Has anyone got a lend of a Dún na nGall jersey?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 03/09/2012 14:07:54    1258140

I think he should stay, however he needs to get his players attitudes trimmed down a bit. theres no reason why they shouldent have won that game yesterday other than that they dident go for every ball. Mayo put everything on the line and went after every ball. I think Dublin have too many individual men on the team and not enough team players. It took team players to win that game yest and every Mayo man on that field was a team player. I think Pat is an honest good manager.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 921 - 03/09/2012 14:09:44    1258142

I'd like Pat Gilroy to stay, he is a superb manager. Really turned Dublin into a well drilled machine.

Had Dublin found their rhythym in the 40th minute, rather than after 50mins, then Dublin would be in the final again. I have no doubt they would have taken more points, rather than looking for goals and won the game.
I know the man has huge commitments outside of GAA, but i think he is a fantastic manager, and i think they can go far with him at the helm.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3032 - 03/09/2012 14:44:20    1258201

culann

no i wouldnt think connolly place in squad would be considered hestood up in first half and kicked two good points to get us up and running i think he and bernard have been put under pressure by the system we played and a return to a more orthodox forward lie would see him flourish

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 03/09/2012 14:53:21    1258220