Farrell admits Fitzsimons Dublin days look to be over

And then there was one. If any of Dublin's illustrious nine-time-All-Ireland-winning trio of James McCarthy, Michael Fitzsimons and Stephen Cluxton are going to become the first man to reach double figures in terms of Celtic Crosses, it will have to be the goalkeeper.

Dubs manager Dessie Farrell appeared to close the door on the inter-county career of Fitzsimons after his side's loss to Donegal in their National League encounter on Saturday evening when he admitted it is "unlikely" the Cuala man will be back in blue.

Fitzsimons, along with Dublin team-mates Con O'Callaghan and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, swept to the Club All-Ireland title this month when their rampant Cuala side saw off Errigal Ciaran at Croke Park.

That may seem like the perfect time to exit stage left for Fitzsimons, although his all-action performances for his club during their run through Dublin, Leinster and eventually the All-Ireland would suggest a player who still had something to offer at inter-county level.

Time waits for no man, however. And manager Farrell all but confirmed that the defender's days at the elite level of the game were at an end.

"It's unlikely Mike will be back with us," Farrell told TG4.

"He's had a long, long season when you combine the inter-county games with the great run that Cuala had. He's a very busy man with his profession [doctor] as well, so it's very unlikely that we'll have Mick back.

"He's been a brilliant servant, we'll miss him greatly but that seems to be the situation at the minute."

The news on Fitzsimons' future comes on the back of the retirements of James McCarthy, Brian Fenton and the continued - most likely permanent - absences of Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion. Uncertainty also surrounds the inter-county future