Dublin U20s boss Ciaran Farrelly nurturing next crop of stars

Over the past decade Dublin have contested every Leinster Under-20 or Under-21 final.

Those 10 years have seen them win six provincial crowns but lose the last three deciders - two to Kildare and one to Offaly.

This evening they kick off their 2024 Leinster Eirgid Under-20 campaign against Westmeath in Kinnegad.

While the production line has not yielded an endless supply of talent to future Dublin senior football teams, this grade has certainly helped identify or progress bright coaches and managers.

Dessie Farrell and Jim Gavin have both come through the Dublin Under-20/21 management 'academy' and it stood to them as they went on to clinch senior championships with their county after landing provincial and All-Ireland crowns (two each) at Under-21 and Under-20 level.

Next up in the production line of bright young Dublin coaches is Thomas Davis stalwart Ciaran Farrelly.

Farrelly played for his club in the 2019 county senior final loss to Ballyboden St Enda’s. By then he was already immersed in coaching at club and inter-county level.

Farrelly worked for the Dublin County Board previously as a development officer and had spells as a coach at both minor and Under-20 level.

Before that he was immersed in club coaching.

"The thing is to give the team the best opportunity to succeed and develop."

"That background has helped me see what is going on at ground level," he says.

"You can see what direction the game is heading, how the game is moving on, what tactics are coming in - or going out - and coaching at club and underage intercounty level has been something I have really enjoyed."

Now he has made the transition to management. The roles are very different.

"A challenge has been to identify all the players that are eligible to help us