The Six Leading Contenders To Replace Dessie Farrell As Dublin Manager

After six years in charge, five Leinster Titles, two All-Irelands and a solitary league title, Dessie Farrell's Dublin tenure came to a sobering conclusion on Saturday evening as his side were eliminated from the All-Ireland SFC at the quarter-final stages for a second consecutive season.

They had until Saturday's 0-23 to 0-16 loss to Tyrone, enjoyed a chequered season that was wholly inconsistent, at times even desolate, but at other times also hugely promising. Saturday's result, however, leaned closer to the former, as Farrell's men were entirely outclassed by the Red Hand County, ending their summer prematurely once again.

The result drew a close to a challenging year for Dublin, which also saw them bow out of the Leinster Championship at the semi-final stage, failing to win the tournament for the first time since 2010.

Now, for the first time since Pat Gilroy took over in 2009, there is no clear succession plan at the top of Dublin GAA. Unlike with both Gavin and Farrell, recent years have seen the counties' underage systems provide few candidates, and it's unlikely that Dublin will look outside their own county borders for any form of high-profile appointment.

So, with a gaping leadership vacuum now emerging in the capital, we've broken down the six most likely candidates to lead Dublin into 2026.

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Ger Brennan

A Dublin legend, the current Louth boss won two All-Irelands, five Leinster titles and an All-Star during an illustrious nine-year stint in blue.

Now managing Louth, Brennan led the Wee County to a first Leinster title in 68 years when his men defeated Meath in Croke Park earlier this summer. Not stopping there, Brennan's men then defied the odds and emerged from the All-Ireland group stages into the knockout stages, where it took a far superior Donegal side to end their summer.

Few in Dublin would say no to seeing Brennan in the Dublin dugout, but it would take quite something to lure him away from a promising Louth set-up that looks set to be the beneficiary of its recent underage success.

Mick Bohan

Currently a free agent per se, Bohan is one of Dublin's most successful ever managers. On the men's side, Bohan acted as Jim Gavin's skill manager for their 2013 All-Ireland title, as well as the duo's two U21 All-Ireland titles in 2010 and 2012. He has also coached Clare, Thomas Davis, Clontarf, and Lucan Sarsfields and played a role in three Sigerson Cup wins with DCU.

His greatest exploits, however, came with the Dublin Ladies Footballers, where he won five All-Ireland senior titles between 2017 and 2024 as well as six Leinster titles and two National League titles.

Having stood down from that role at the end of last season, Bohan could be the ideal man to take the reins in the capital.

Robbie Brennan

The one that got away, Robbie Brennan is the only other Dub currently leading an inter-county set-up. While he stands as possibly the best candidate for the role, it will be a tall task to lure him away from Meath in what is just his first year in charge there.

Already, the former Kilmacud Crokes boss has claimed Dublin's scalp in Leinster, as well as defeats of Cork, Kerry and Galway to reach an All-Ireland semi-final in a fortnight's time.

Brennan was equally successful in South Dublin, where he led Crokes to three consecutive Dublin and Leinster titles as well as a famous All-Ireland club win in 2023.

Jim Gavin

The most unlikely selection on the list, a Jim Gavin re-appointment would rock the GAA world. His reputation as the sport's most successful ever manager goes before him and there are few counties who wouldn't bite your hand off to have him at the helm.

However, having already achieved it all with Dublin and currently preoccupied both spearheading the new GAA rules, and with his new job in the DAA, it would take a miracle to get Dublin's favourite son back in charge.

That said, if having completely overhauled the sport, Gavin returned for one more foray into intercounty management, it would be nothing short of exceptional.

Pat Gilroy

When there is a vacancy in Dublin, Gilroy's name is never too far away, and when Dublin asks, the Vincents' man nearly always answers.

One of the rare Dublin dual managers, Gilroy led Dublin to a first All-Ireland since 1995 in 2011 and was widely credited with creating the winning culture that became the bedrock of Dublin's unprecedented era of success, and he also took charge of the Dublin hurlers in 2018.

Having been involved in Dessie Farrell's set up as a backroom team member as recently as last season, Gilroy is one of the few candidates who has experience with the current playing group - an advantage that could see the County Board ask him to come back for another stint in the hot seat.

Jason Sherlock

A true blue Dublin legend, Sherlock has long been an actor in the background of Dublin intercounty teams. Aside from his own success leading the Dublin minors and a swathe of other development squads, Sherlock was also a key member of Jim Gavin's backroom team between 2015 and 2019, when Dublin lifted Sam Maguire on every possible occasion.

His most recent coaching exploits came in Westmeath, where Sherlock served on Dessie Dolan's backroom team in 2023 and 2024. Despite being offered a managerial role in the county, Sherlock turned down the opportunity. With no intercounty managerial experience, however, it is yet to be seen whether Sherlock would be the right fit for the role.

Whether Dublin opt to go back to the well with their tried and tested icons one more time, or unearth a somewhat unknown quantity from their vast ranks, only time will tell. But, for whoever it is, the sternest task of revamping Dublin football now lies in wait.