RORY O'CARROLL doesn't like to hang around. The Kilmacud Crokes man's graduation from club sub to the Man Who Would Be Full-Back For Dublin has taken less than 14 months.

His initial arrival into the Dublin senior squad itself came after just two and a bit senior club games.

An effective cameo as a substitute in the Leinster club final against Rhode on December 7 2008 was his first senior club appearance. O'Carroll was tasked with taming the elusive Anton Sullivan, whose threat subsequently faded completely.

STICKY

The All-Ireland club semi-final and final in February and March confirmed O'Carroll as a defender with a penchant for sticky marking and a healthy thirst for the physical side of the game, and with that -- just two and half games senior club experience -- he was asked aboard the good ship Dublin for the remainder of the year.

"It has been fairly quick," O'Carroll admitted at yesterday's launch of the Cadbury's GAA All-Ireland U21 football championship, a competition in which he is set to feature for Jim Gavin's Dublin team.

"That's why I was extremely surprised when Pat (Gilroy) first rang me. I was saying, 'Here, I've only played two and a half games for the club'. But he said he would just call me up on a trial run and see how it goes and we took it from there."

In fact, his involvement in Dublin's U21 Leinster win and agonising All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork meant Gilroy had to bide his time before throwing O'Carroll into the senior mix but he made an appearance -- albeit a brief one -- as a last-minute blood sub replacing David Henry against Kerry in Parnell Park on March 29.

By Dublin's Leinster semi-final date with Westmeath, O'Carroll had through a typically full-blooded attitude to training earned a spot in the team at corner-back. From off the radar to championship starter in roughly the length of time it takes to get a driving test.

His decision then to take the rest of the summer to do what most students do freely -- travel abroad with friends -- shocked all concerned. In the circumstances, leaving Gilroy high and dry might have had a detrimental effect on his footballing future and O'Carroll himself revealed he feared the worst.

"I was worried," he explained. "But then Pat rang me up and said there's no hard feelings or anything like that. So it's been grand ever since. I've had no problems whatsoever."

There was, however, a brief tug-of-love over his services when Dubs hurling boss Anthony Daly and his management believed they had secured the talented dual player for the season, but he rejects the notion that he 'opted out' of the hurlers squad.

"I was never really on it in the first place," he explains. "I decided to go with the footballers. I was giving my time to football. Unless you're Conal Keaney, I don't think you're able to do both.

"I know Eoin Cadogan is doing it in Cork. It depends on the player and the county too. It's very difficult unless you're superman or something. It is possible but sometimes you can end up falling between two stools and find yourself not starting for either."

Starting the league at full-back in the wins over Derry and Kerry, O'Carroll has done well, his aggressive, assertive style drawing comparisons to the likes of Paddy Moran.

Prematurely or not, O'Carroll is being widely tipped to slot into Dublin's nuisance No3 jersey for the year, though he's keen to draw attention to the level of competition for each position in the full-back this year.

"Ross (his brother) is out with an injury at the moment so it gives a chance to the likes of me and Philly McMahon, Mick Fitzsimons and Paul Conlon. Denis Bastick is injured at the moment and he'll be back too, so there will be good competition there.

"You never know, David Henry played in the forwards in the league last year but ended up corner-back, so it won't be easy to get a place there," he concluded.

- Conor McKeon