John Small has become the latest Dublin footballer to retire from the intercounty game. One of the gilded generation, born in 1993, he played for the county for 11 years, winning seven All-Irelands.
A combative defender, generally selected at centre or wing back, he was frequently handed key man-marking duties. There had been uncertainty about his intentions last season but he was persuaded to give the county one more year, but has now decided to call it a day.
Included in his All-Ireland wins were the historic six titles in succession won from 2015 to 2020, the Holy Grail of an unprecedented five-in-a-row under Jim Gavin, plus a sixth the following year, which was Dessie Farrell’s first.
Small, whose brother Paddy also plays for Dublin, in addition won 10 Leinster titles, four national leagues and an All Star at centre back in 2020, as well as nominations in 2016, ’17 and ’19.
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He joins distinguished Ballymun club mates James McCarthy, Dean Rock and Philly McMahon in retirement.
In the immediate frame, he is a substantial loss of experience to the Dublin dressingroom in new manager Ger Brennan’s first year. Stephen Cluxton had already hung up his boots but is to remain involved as one of the new management’s selectors.
Small’s first All-Ireland came in 2014 when he was centre back on the team that won the under-21 title, defeating Roscommon in the final.
Arriving on the senior scene the following year, he appeared as a replacement for Jack McCaffrey in the All-Ireland final win over then champions Kerry before making himself an indispensable member of the Dublin defence.
His capacity to man-mark was complemented by an ability to play football. He was physically dominant and an ideal choice to mind some of the opposition’s best attackers.
Small was made for those specialist roles, because of unflinching application. In training he marked Ciarán Kilkenny, which kept him sharp.
Being routinely used on very good players had its perils and at times he could stray over the line, getting sent off on two yellow cards in the 2017 final. Miraculously, this didn’t end up as a decisive advantage for Mayo, as Donal Vaughan’s brainstorm in seeking additional retribution meant that Small didn’t make the walk unaccompanied.
A year later after an exemplary job on Tyrone’s Peter Harte, he also received two yellows, even if on this occasion the dismissal came in injury-time at the end of the match.
The family influence was strong and his late father Declan was credited with Trojan work to build up and maintain Ballymun Kickhams.
Declan Darcy, coach with Gavin, said, “If you go back to his dad, putting all that time into stabilising Ballymun, I think you can see those same traits in John, and also in Paddy. They want to give back. They sacrifice themselves for others. He’s just a brilliant team-mate, and he comes from the right space.
“He’s a terribly decent fella, and I have great time for him. He put in a phenomenal shift for Dublin, which I think has probably been underestimated in ways.”
The news was released by Dublin GAA on Thursday afternoon.
“Representing the Dublin senior football team has been the greatest privilege of my life,” he said. “It gave me memories and friendships that I’ll carry with me forever. They truly were the best days of my life.
“I’ve been so lucky to have incredible people around me throughout this journey – my family, my partner Jade, my son Charlie, my friends, my club, Jim and Dessie along with their coaching teams, my teammates, and the amazing Dublin supporters who have always stood behind us.
“But above everyone else, I want to acknowledge my Mam, Andrea, and my late Dad, Declan. They gave me the chance to live my dream and supported me every step of the way. I wouldn’t have achieved any of this without them.”
Dublin chair Ken O’Sullivan paid tribute.
“John has been a colossus at the heart of Dublin’s defence and somebody who has given his all to the cause every time he stepped onto the pitch in a blue jersey.
“He was an integral part of Dublin’s golden period of success over the past decade and will be fondly remembered by Dublin fans for many years to come.
“We wish him and his family all the best for the years ahead.”
Farrell, who coached that cohort of players all the way up to senior, also congratulated the retired player.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate John on an outstanding career with Dublin football. It has been a great privilege to have coached him since the Dublin Under-13 squad, right through to his final game in a senior jersey.
“From the outset, John distinguished himself not only as a fierce competitor and a warrior on the field, but as a man of deep humility and heart. He has always given everything for the team, for those beside him, and for the Dublin jersey he wore with such pride.”
Farrell’s successor Ger Brennan, Small’s predecessor in the No 6 jersey, said:
“Having played briefly with John and against him multiple times at club level, I know John was a warrior, a leader and a team player to the very end. I wish John every success as he returns fully to his club Ballymun Kickhams and in his future personal and professional endeavours.”
