Indo GAA · Irish Independent

Ciaran Whelan in studio | Summers in Dublin, channelling Hill 16, the stark reality of missing out on Sam Maguire

·1 hr 3 min·5 clips

Ciarán Whelan describes driving to the Burlington Hotel to shake hands after Dublin won without him.

This episode features former Dublin Gaelic footballer and current RTÉ pundit Ciarán Whelan reflecting on his 14-year inter-county career and his transition to media. Host Joe engages Whelan in a detailed conversation about his playing days, notable rivals, and the evolution of the game. Whelan is a two-time All-Star and RTÉ's longest-serving GAA analyst. Whelan begins by addressing his iconic large white goalkeeping gloves, which he wore for better ball-catching despite knowing they looked "stupid." He discusses the era of physical midfield battles against players like Darragh Ó Sé, John McDermott, and Anthony Tohill. Whelan credits his time on International Rules teams for learning from marking these rivals in training. He explains the critical skill of timing a run to catch a kickout at its highest point to avoid being "smashed." Whelan highlights Stephen Cluxton's consistent kickouts as a key factor for a midfielder's success. A significant portion covers the "surreal" period after his 2009 retirement, just before Dublin's 2011 All-Ireland win ended a 16-year drought. Whelan describes driving to the team's celebration at the Burlington Hotel to congratulate his former teammates, calling it a "tough" experience where he felt the "boat has left the station without you." The following day, he drove to Derry for a TV assignment while Dublin celebrated, questioning "what has my life become." He admits the subsequent winter was emotionally difficult as Sam Maguire was paraded around Dublin. Whelan analyzes the tactical shift in football post-2011, noting Pat Gilroy's Dublin abandoned long kickouts as early as 2009. He understood managers like Jim McGuinness adopting defensive systems to win, even if it made for poor spectacles. He praises the recent rule changes for reviving the midfield role. On punditry, Whelan recalls working alongside Joe Brolly, Pat Spillane, and Colm O'Rourke, describing an environment where "anything could happen." He recounts a controversial 2019 broadcast where he defended a Dublin player without seeing a full replay, for which he later took "flak." The tone is a relaxed, conversational interview blending nostalgia, technical analysis, and personal reflection. The style is introspective and anecdotal, with Whelan offering candid assessments of his career and the sport's changes. GAA fans, particularly Dublin supporters and those interested in football's tactical evolution, will appreciate this episode's insights and stories. Listeners seeking hard news or debate on current events might find its reflective, historical focus less engaging.

As heard by us

A direct Dublin football conversation that explains the game's hard turn without losing the stories.

Ciaran Whelan comes across as a frank voice on how Dublin football changed, tracing a path from a 19-year-old debutant to a long-time analyst who has watched the game tighten around him.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Dublin football explained by someone who played through the shift.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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