Dublin have been relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League for the first time since manager Dessie Farrell was a player. Dublin dropped out of Division 1 in 1995, the year they won their first All-Ireland title since 1983.
On Sunday, Farrell's side lost by a point to Monaghan in Clones, relegating them to Division 2 for 2023. They will be joined by Kildare, while Galway and Roscommon will be taking a step up the ladder. It means no team from Leinster will play in Division 1 next year.
Late in Sunday's game, Dublin drew level through a Dean Rock penalty, but Jack McCarron - with the final score of the game - gave Monaghan the 3-13 to 1-18 victory.
"We did well to get ourselves back into it, potentially could have kicked on but it wasn't to be," Farrell told Dubs TV. We're very disappointed from that perspective."
Dessie Farrell interview after Dublin relegation
Farrell said Dublin being relegated is a "disappointment" but what dissatisfied him even more was another inconsistent performance. After losing their first four games, Dublin defeated Tyrone and Donegal to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation.
"We weren't focusing on the relegation battle," said Farrell.
"It was more about consistency of performance. We had put two decent performances back-to-back. It would have been nice to put a third one to that, particularly heading into a couple of weeks of preparation for championship.
"That's more disappointing, that the inconsistency was there, that we're not in a position - at least at the moment - to put a series of really good performances back-to-back.
em>27 March 2022; Jack McCarron of Monaghan, who scored the winning point, with his mother Patricia and dad Ray after the Allianz Football League Division 1 against Dublin at St Tiernach's Park in Clones. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
"If you're to look for positives, it's difficult in this moment. When we review it over the coming days, I think the integration of some of the younger players has been important; getting some other players back fit and healthy, players who've come back to us at the back end of the league. Trying to reenergise some of the senior players, and ensuring they've the appetite to keep going, a lot of miles on the clock, a lot of years under the belt. Trying to put it all together to build our game model that we can really have a competitive championship.
"There's definitely work to do. The next couple of weeks are going to be really important to us. Despite the disappointment, there are some positives to take from it."
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