Dublin forward Paul Mannion has sensationally quit the Dublin panel ahead of the 2021 season.
Mannion's departure is the latest blow to boss Dessie Farrell following the retirements of Paddy Andrews and Michael Darragh Macauley earlier this week.
His decision to opt out comes as more of a surprise as the star Sky Blues forward is just 27. He joins Jack McCaffrey, also 27, in opting out while in the prime years of his inter-county career.
Both players have always sought to strike a balance between inter-county football and life off the field.
McCaffrey missed the 2016 season to travel in Africa before returning to the panel the following year. The Clontarf clubman announced his decision to opt out again over the summer.
Kilmacud Crokes star Mannion missed the 2015 All-Ireland triumph when he spent a year living in China and Dublin GAA confirmed this afternoon that he will look to focus on his off-field life as he steps away from the panel for the second time.
Mannion has won six All-Ireland titles in blue and picked up three All-Star awards from 2017 to 19, and it appears he has not ruled out a return to the panel in the future.
The corner-forward had to settle for a bench role in the 2020 Championship and was a second-half substitute in the All-Ireland final win over Mayo last month.
A Dublin GAA statement read: "Dublin GAA would like to confirm that Paul Mannion is stepping away from the Dublin Senior Football panel for now.
"We would like to thank Paul for all the time and commitment he gave to Dublin GAA at all grades and we wish him well as he concentrates on developing his career outside of inter-county football."
