Nine-Time All-Ireland Winner Mick Fitzsimons Uncertain on His Dublin Future
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Loading... - Brown Wilson
- 16 Oct 2024
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Mick Fitzsimons finds himself at a crossroads, uncertain about his future in inter-county football. When asked about his plans, he offers a candid response: “I don’t know yet.” It’s not a matter of being evasive; rather, he’s genuinely living in the moment, navigating the complexities of life and sport. “If you run out of questions, you can just ask me that!” he quips, acknowledging the common curiosity surrounding his next steps.
This isn’t the first time Fitzsimons has faced such inquiries. He recalls that just two hours after last year’s All-Ireland final, where he celebrated his ninth title, he was already being asked if he was done with inter-county football. “It’s like, ‘I don’t know. I’m just living day to day,’” he explains, emphasizing the pressure that comes with speculation about retirement.
The context of this uncertainty is significant. This year was different for Dublin, as they faced an unexpected exit from the championship before the semi-final stage for the first time since 2009, the year Fitzsimons made his senior debut. “Once the club season comes about, you’re just focusing on that,” he says, reflecting on how quickly the focus shifts from inter-county to club commitments. “I haven’t really thought about it since then.”
Currently, Fitzsimons is balancing his dual roles as a doctor and a footballer. He is on placement at Temple Street Hospital while also preparing for a crucial club final this Sunday against Kilmacud Crokes—Cuala’s first county final since 1988. Their journey to this point has been remarkable, especially considering they were competing in the Dublin SFC 2 competition just three years ago, winning it twice in a row in 2020 and 2021.
Fitzsimons recalls the ambition that drove Cuala’s resurgence. “Some people were like, ‘Does Jim Gavin not say stick to the process?!’” he laughs, recalling the skepticism they faced. “I think you’re taking that out of context. Everyone who played with Dublin understood what their goal was. You have to mention it at some stage and then you can start sticking to the process.”
As a survivor of the Dublin under-21 club winning team from 2010, Fitzsimons has a long history with the sport. He and teammate Luke Keating were part of a squad that defeated Kilmacud that year, a team featuring notable players like Rory O’Carroll and Cian O’Sullivan. Despite the proximity of the two clubs, Fitzsimons insists there is no significant rivalry.
Reflecting on their journey, he notes, “We wanted to plant that idea early that if we got our act together … it was something we could do.” He acknowledges that their aspirations have been long-standing, stating, “We were probably thinking we’d like to get somewhere like this back when we were in the intermediate championship. That was always the goal. We were always stating it. It’s probably just taken longer than we would have liked.”
As Fitzsimons prepares for the upcoming final, the uncertainty surrounding his inter-county future remains. For now, he is focused on the present—balancing his professional responsibilities with the excitement of competing for a county title. Whether he continues with Dublin or not, his legacy as a nine-time All-Ireland winner is firmly established, and his contributions to both club and county will be remembered for years to come.
