Nov 20,2024
Legendary Kerry midfielder Jack O'Shea hailed Brian Fenton as a generational player as the two-time Footballer of the Year departs from the inter-county scene.
Fenton, who was dropped from the Dublin minor squad in 2011, went onto to become the most acclaimed midfielder of his era and was frequently compared to O'Shea, the latter winning seven All-Irelands with Mick O'Dwyer's Kerry and the Texaco Footballer of the Year on four occasions between 1980 and 1985.
"I remember meeting my big Dublin opposite number Brian Mullins back in 2014," he said. "It was out in Belfield and he was saying there's a young fella coming, and he says to me 'he reminds me a lot of you... this fella is going to be good, watch out for him.'
"And that person was Brian Fenton. Brian (Mullins) was a great judge of footballers and he could see his potential.
"He's a player I've admired for years," O'Shea added.
"He's a fabulous player and a fabulous person. His Dad is a fabulous man, he was a fantastic Kerry supporter when we were playing. The bit of Kerryness in him doesn't do him any harm either.
"He was a phenomenal player, I've probably seen about 97 or 98% of his matches in Croke Park.
"You couldn't but admire the excellence of his play, his movement, his involvement in the game, his behaviour. Everything that is good about Gaelic football, Brian Fenton had it.
"He never wasted a ball really. He was pivotal to everything Dublin did. When they got into trouble, he was the one who dug them out of trouble.
"When it came to tight matches, he was the one that stood up. When the need is greatest, your cream comes to the top.
"You don't get players like that everyday. He's a player of a generation."
"I remember meeting my big Dublin opposite number Brian Mullins back in 2014 out in Belfield and he saying there's a young fella coming, and he says to me 'he reminds me a lot of you... this fella is going to be good, watch out for him.'"
With Fenton's retirement following swiftly after the more widely anticipated departure of James McCarthy, there is a sense that a mass exodus of Dublin's medal-laden 2010s generation is in full swing.
Several other players have yet to make their intentions clear, though legendary goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton turns 43 next month, while Jack McCaffrey has also opted out before.
O'Shea has more experience than most of witnessing the break-up of a dominant team, with the great Kerry side of the 1978-86 falling into mediocrity following their loss in the 1987 Munster final replay.
"It happens everybody. It happened our team back in the 80s, a lot of lads went at the same time.
"I've no doubt that there's huge talent in Dublin and there's huge resources to bring new players forward. Sometimes when players go, it opens the door for somebody else.
"But you don't replace the likes of Brian Fenton overnight. Dessie is going to have a bit of work on his hands.
"The two players that have gone now are probably the two most consistent players Dublin have had over the last 10 years."
"Probably one of Dublin's best ever players" - Ciarán Whelan and Kevin McManamon pay tribute to Brian Fenton after the six-time All-Star's surprise retirement #GAA pic.twitter.com/Dxnjv8u7UL
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 19, 2024
Meanwhile, Fenton's one-time mentor in Raheny, two-time All-Star midfielder Ciaran Whelan said his clubmate would go down as one of the county's greatest ever players, hailing in particular his cool disposition on the pitch.
"Brian brought the same calmness, and a very humble guy off the pitch, and that reflected in his performances on the pitch," he said.
"He showed great composure, leadership and was an absolutely fantastic player over the last 10 years.
"He'll be sadly missed by Dublin fans."
Former team-mate Kevin McManamon admitted he was "stunned" at the news of Fenton's sudden departure.
"It's a bit even even strange to say," he told Marty Morrissey. "I would have expected him to be around for many years to come."
"He has it all. He's got size, he's got the physical attributes, very, very high game intelligence, knows what a game needs.
"Has delivered some great moments, great scores for Dublin. He's done it all."
