Gilroy signals a new look Dublin

Dublin football boss Pat Gilroy has strongly hinted that there will be a radical clear-out of his panel for 2010.

Speaking to The Irish Independent, Gilroy said: 'This will probably be the biggest change in the panel since 2002. I think that's an inevitable consequence of what happened to us this year and last.'

'I honestly envisage next year is going to be a difficult one because we'll be embedding a lot of new people into the panel and probably into the team,' Gilroy added.

'We have to be patient because it is the right thing to do. If we don't make that change, we are just prolonging an issue.'

That is the clearest sign yet that a heavy cull of Dublin's 2009 panel is in the pipeline. The squad has already lost Ciaran Whelan (retired) and Shane Ryan, who has committed himself soley to the county hurlers for 2010.

But Gilroy has succeeded in getting talented hurler Ross O'Carroll to defect to his squad and has dismissed suggestions that this will cause a rift with hurling boss Anthony Daly.

The two O'Carroll brothers, Rory and Ross, have both now committed themselves exclusively to the county footballers, even though Daly had hoped they would throw their lot in with him.

It still remains to be seen if Daly can persuade talented Ballyboden St Enda's dual star Conal Keaney to play any role for the hurlers in 2010.

'We talked to Anthony Daly about a couple of players, about the potential for them to play dual,' Gilroy revealed.

'I don't have a problem, if a guy feels he can commit the time to doing it let him have a go. But none of them seem to see that as a realistic option so they are making decisions.

'I played hurling up until I was about 22 or 23. I really hope that the Dublin hurlers do well,' said Gilroy, who is a member of St Vincent's, which is one of the city's strongest dual clubs.

Daly is believed to be particularly miffed at losing Ross O'Carroll but Gilroy argued that the dual star has always been an exceptional footballer and played a key role previously in Kilmacud Crokes' All-Ireland club football victory.

'I don't think we should be castigating or complaining about anyone, they're doing a job for Dublin,' Gilroy said.