Seán Cavanagh expecting changing of the guard in Dublin

Seán Cavanagh says he's expecting retirements from the Dublin panel in the fallout to Saturday's surprise All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Galway.

The Boys in Blue missed out on a semi-final spot for the first time in 15 years, a period which has seen them claim the Sam Maguire on nine occasions.

Three of their starters on Saturday – James McCarthy, Mick Fitzsimons and Stephen Cluxton – were chasing a 10th Celtic Cross medal before the end of July, but a big second-half showing from Galway saw the opportunity end for 2024.

It seems unlikely that we'll see the trio again in 2025, with Dubs manager Dessie Farrell telling RTÉ Sport: "It could be an end of an era for some of those Dublin players.

"I'm not going to pre-empt anything, but if it is, they have been wonderful servants and they died with their boots on."

McCarthy was 34 in March, Fitzsimons turned 35 the following month, while Cluxton, in the less demanding position of goalkeeper, will be 43 in September.

'It felt like it was a natural end to the greatest team we'll ever see'

Seán Cavanagh is expecting a rebuilding process for Dublin after the loss to Galway #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/rcKjGSqZgp

Cavanagh, who was speaking on The Sunday Game, says we've likely seen the last of Gaelic football's most successful inter-county trio of players.

"There feels like a bit of a closure, and a sadness to it," Cavanagh, who won three All-Ireland medals with Tyrone, said on the programme.

"I was the wrong end of a lot of results against that amazing Dublin team. When they won last year, you felt like it was a bit of a last dance.

"They got the band back together mid-season and they eked out their win. For me they couldn't retire like that. I know people talk about retiring on top but