Brian Fenton was the full package - without him, Dublin look even more vulnerable
There is shock in Dublin GAA circles following reports that two time Player of the Year Brian Fenton is stepping away from Dessie Farrell's panel after a remarkable decade in blue
The heart and soul has been ripped out of the Dublin's footballers now that Brian Fenton has joined James McCarthy in the intercounty afterlife.
Confirmation of Fenton's intercounty retirement is due today and, as the Dubs deal with the shock of his decision to step away after 10 stellar years, there is also the realisation that the big name departures won't stop there with Stephen Cluxton and Michael Fitzsimons tipped to go.
Suddenly there is a question over Dublin's ability to get over the line in Leinster next summer. An unthinkable prospect for so long, it could now be a live possibility that their run of 14 provincial titles in a row - and 19 in the last 20 - could go.
READ MORE:Dublin stunned as Brian Fenton set to follow James McCarthy in stepping away
Although into their 30s, McCarthy and Fenton were that important to Farrell's cause. With both gone, the Dubs will be viewed as vulnerable by several counties that have lived in a long blue shadow for so long in Leinster.
It is difficult to envisage Dublin without them - and, most likely, without Cluxton, Fitzsimons and maybe more - going deep in the championship beyond the province, if they qualify for the All-Ireland series yet again.
McCarthy's decision to finish up at the age of 34 was not a surprise, even if it felt like the Ballymun warrior could soldier on forever. Fenton, however, was 31 and although the Raheny man had hinted in an interview last year that he always had it in his head to do a decade in the blue jersey and that he wasn't sure if he would keep going to an 11th or 12 year, he remained one of the best midfielders in the country.
Tall and rangy and yet powerful and built for speed, Fenton was brilliant in the air, could kick-pass off both feet, was both combative and creative and was a leader.
The best midfielder of his generation was the driving force behind Dublin's historic six in a row before tacking on one more Celtic Cross medal 16 months ago at Croke Park, the playground of his dreams.
Not mapped at minor level after playing on north Dublin development squads, Fenton had Ciaran Whelan as his mentor at Raheny and the former Dublin great always believed he was dealing with a serious talent, even if the county's minor selectors - Farrell included - didn't concur.
It took a growth spurt later in his teens for him to get noticed, but knee injuries disrupted his progress. Finding form with UCD in the Sigerson, Farrell took a punt on him and he started the All-Ireland semi-final and final as Dublin's under-21s won the ultimate prize.
Fenton was fast-tracked into the senior set-up by Jim Gavin and was on the path to becoming a colossus of the game, a two-time Player of the Year.
It took six years before he tasted defeat with the Blues in a championship game and, over the course of his career, he won seven All-Ireland medals, 10 Leinster titles and four National League titles.
2015 was his breakthrough year, his man of the match display in the All-Ireland final victory over Kerry the icing on the cake in his remarkable breakthrough.
Injuries that spring to Michael Darragh Macauley and Cian O'Sullivan offered him chances to make his mark. He took them. Fenton was even better the following year and, as he matured, Dublin reaped the benefits as silverware rained down.
Perhaps Kieran Donaghy put it best when he reflected on Fenton's performance in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final win over Mayo. "He's a freak of nature," said Donaghy.
"I don't think Darragh O'Se, Jack O'Shea, Brian Mullins all the way back...I don't think any of those fellas would fancy marking him. He is the full package."
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