Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's 'Sport At 7' programme, O'Dwyer recalled: "I met John Bailey in the K Club. A backroom team was put in place to go out and have a look at junior and intermediate games in Dublin.

"However, when I got back to Waterville I began to question my decision. Some of the former Dublin players and ex-managers began to have their say at the prospect of me taking over.

"Quite simply, they were up in arms. I subsequently made the decision the following day not to accept the post. I rang John (Bailey) to say that it wasn't the right time for me to take over."

The Kerryman had many duels with Dublin as a player and manager over the years, most notably during the counties' famous All-Ireland duels of the 1970s.

Many will wonder what difference 'Micko' might have made to Dublin's fortunes this century, during a spell in which they have won a succession of Leinster titles but no All-Ireland crown.

"Dublin have had good teams for the past decade and that little bit of luck hasn't always gone with them. If it had, I think they would have won a couple of All-Irelands by now," explained O'Dwyer.

"They are definite contenders this year, but then if anything happens the Brogan brothers, doubts will creep in.

"If they don't win Sam this year, I'm not expecting a call from the County Board asking for my services."

O'Dwyer has just finished a five-year stint as manager of the Wicklow footballers, his last match seeing them fall to Armagh in an All-Ireland qualifier replay last Saturday night.

Commenting on his future as an inter-county manager after the game, the 75-year-old admitted: "I have made no decision yet as to whether I will take up another job somewhere else.

"But I'll think about my future over the next few weeks. I'd like to think my involvement in the game is not over yet. We'll just have to wait and see.

"Of course you have to be a bit mad to be involved, and I am a bit mad and that's the reason why I am in it...as long as the legs and the body will work for me, I'll keep going."

O'Dwyer won four All-Irelands as a Kerry player and eight as manager of his native county, and has made no secret of his desire to manage Ireland in an International Rules Series against Australia.

"At the time they thought I was so involved in Kerry I didn't get an offer (to manage Ireland), but you never know in the future," he told RTÉ.

"I'll be taking a rest now looking at matches around South Kerry and we'll see how things go. You never know what will happen."