The upcoming Lidl National Football League campaign will be the litmus for the extent of Dublin's evolution since their all-conquering era, according to Nadine Doherty.
Mick Bohan's side open their campaign on Saturday against reigning league and All-Ireland champions Meath as they look to bounce back from a 2022 to forget.
Last year saw the Dubs lose to Donegal in the Division 1 semi-finals before the same side knocked them out of the championship at the quarter-final stage.
Speaking on RTÉ's Game On, former Donegal footballer Doherty said the challenge for Dublin now will be to recapture the standards set by the generation which won four All-Irelands in a row between 2017 and 2020.
"I just feel maybe in the last few years, you've lost Noelle Healy, you've lost Niamh McEvoy, you've lost (Siobhán) McGrath and now you've Lyndsey (Davey)," she said.
"And then you look at Sinéad Aherne, Carla (Rowe) has carried a few injuries, Niamh Collins... these huge players for Dublin aren't playing week in, week out and the jury is still out for me as to whether Dublin have been able to, not replace them but, find players who are at that standard performing consistently week in, week out."
Ahead of the start of the 2023 Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues, Emma Duggan of @meathladiesMLGF and @CarlaRowe18 of @dublinladiesg look ahead to the new campaign @LadiesFootball #SeriousSupport #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/4eRQJZMQD3
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) January 18, 2023
However, Doherty still expects Dublin to be involved at the business end of the major competitions this year even amid the question marks.
"They're going to be there or thereabouts absolutely and nobody is writing Dublin off but I do think that perhaps the few years experience that those players have had, it might bring them to that level," she said.
"But if it hasn't, and I feel we'll find out by the end of the league if they have or haven't - not that they'd struggle in the championship - but it wouldn't be a surprise again if they are pinned to their collar by Donegal, Meath or whoever it is. But listen, they're going to be there and if Sinead Goldrick is home for the league and the championship and stays fit, she's still a massive player. So not writing them off by any means."
