Departing Dessie reckons he's leaving his darlin' Dubs in a bright place

DESSIE Farrell insisted that Dublin football was in rude health after calling time on his six-year stint as manager following Saturday's quarter-final loss to Tyrone in Croke Park.

- BY PADDY TIERNEY

Farrell won an All-Ireland title as a player at the expense of the Red Hands in 1995, with Peter Canavan scoring all but one of Tyrone's 12 points.

On Saturday evening, his sons, Darragh and Ruairi Canavan, scored five points from play between them as Malachy O'Rourke's side pulled clear in the closing stage to win by seven points.

This season was very much one of transition for Dublin following a series of high-profile departures, but Farrell feels the future remains bright for the county.

"Some of the new lads we brought in this year, still getting to know them, but a great crop of fellas as well. It augurs very well for Dublin football," added Farrell.

"Then there's an older gang that I would have taken from under-13 development squad, and seeing them grow from young boys to young men and to older men if you like. That's a privilege not many get to do and I'm very grateful for that.

"We all know how dear and special the GAA is to all of us. I'm just so grateful that I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to do what I do. Now is the time to move away."

O'Rourke, meanwhile, hailed the impact of the younger Canavan sibling and his fellow substitutes as Tyrone made Dublin pay a hefty price for a series of missed goal-scoring opportunities throughout a scrappy quarter-final contest.

Although the Red Hands had their noses in front for the majority of the contest, the lead was rarely more than a point or two.