DESSIE FARRELL revealed it is “very unlikely” that Michael Fitzsimons will feature for Dublin in 2025.
The nine-time Sam Maguire winner has not featured for the Capital in either of their two Division 1 football league games so far.
And speaking to TG4 after their defeat to Donegal on Saturday evening, Dublin manager revealed the veteran would not be back this year.
He said: “It is unlikely that Michael will be back with us.
“He has had a long, long season when you combine the inter-county and the great run that Cuala had.
“He is a busy man in his profession as well. Every one knows that so it is very unlikely that we will have Mick back.
“He has been a brilliant servant and we miss him greatly but that seems to be the situation at the minute.”
Fitzsimons’ season only ended on January 19 when he and Cuala won the All-Ireland senior club football final against Errigal Ciaran.
It was far from Fitzsimons’ first national medal, however, as it represented his TENTH at senior level and ELEVENTH overall.
The 35-year-old added the club crown to his NINE Sam Maguires won in the Sky Blue of Dublin.
He was one of three men to cross that landmark when Dessie Farrell’s men beat Kerry in the 2023 final – the others being James McCarthy and Stephen Cluxton.
McCarthy has since retired – as has Brian Fenton – while Cluxton is expected back at some point this season.
But he will be the last of the three amigos, with Farrell paying tribute to the other two for the impact they had on Dublin.
He added: “Himself and James McCarthy, two fabulous ambassadors for Dublin GAA over the years.
“I think the education they have given the rest of the players and the standards the set has been pretty immense.
“A huge loss for us but a great opportunity for others and already we are seeing a different face to this Dublin team, a different identity starting to emerge.
“The experience isn’t there but hopefully the heart and desire will be and we will work with that.”
Fitzsimons himself placed the All-Ireland he won with Cuala right up there alongside the Celtic Crosses won in the Sky Blue.
The 14-time Leinster SFC winner said: “Every single game with the club is . . . like, it’s different.
“The bond we have with Dublin is phenomenal and the way you get to know lads, from different parts of the city, that’s phenomenal.
“But you can’t beat winning with the club. I would have watched all of those club All-Ireland finals in envy, but admiration for those lads too. Mossy Quinn just finished up and led Vincent’s, just phenomenal, and Michael Savage, Ger Brennan . . . lovely lads.
“I’d see them doing it and then Crokes were doing it, with Paul Mannion and Rory O’Carroll.
“I’d get on very well with those lads and was always so impressed with what they did — Darragh Nelson at Ballyboden the same.
“It was always something we’d dreamed of but a lot of times we didn’t think it would happen. We knew we had decent players but it was pulling it together and getting a panel.
“Then we had 32 lads out training and we were just emphasising that that was the importance of it, as in having such a big group pushing in the same direction and committing.
“Even if they weren’t getting game-time or getting the fruits of it on the pitch, they were phenomenal as a group.”
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