NO DOUBTS FOR TOMAS AT TOLKA SO FAR..

Quinn: GAA was what I played all my life..I love all sports but I'm delighted to be taking on challenge with Shels

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

WHEN Tomás Quinn was strutting his stuff for Dublin, he was part of a team that were the only show in town.

His involvement in inter-country spanned from 2003 to 2012 and in his early days on the panel, the Dubs were not the all-conquering behemoth they would become.

But regardless of whether they were lifting silverware or not, Dublin were the kings of the capital, drawing support from north, south, east and west of the county.

When the glory days rolled around under Jim Gavin, plenty of rival fans quite liked the half-baked idea of splitting the county into two GAA teams, north and south.

But Dublin remained as Dublin-a one stop shop.

For the last 11 years, 'Mossy' Quinn worked as Dublin GAA's commercial and marketing director but that's all in the past now, after swapping codes.

He is Shelbourne's chief executive, a surprise appointment at the time and tasked with overseeing the running of the League of Ireland's Premier Division champions.

As he said in Tolka Park yesterday, the role brings many new challenges and chief among them is the fight for the hearts and minds of supporters.

With four Premier Division clubs in the capital alone, it's a new dynamic for the All-Ireland winner with both Dublin and his club St Vincents.

Asked if Dublin is big enough to sustain four successful football clubs, Quinn said: "It's a good question, and that's what we're all striving to work towards.

"The hope is that yes is the answer. For anyone involved in football in Ireland, the thing is to see if we can get to that model.