News: The attitude towards Dublin football accepting players from outside the county appears to be changing. The issue is to be addressed at the next meeting of the county board later this month, although chairman John Bailey insists it will be a general discussion, and not tied to individual players.

What is clear is that one name mentioned will be that of Rory Gallagher, the player who left Fermanagh two years ago and is the leading forward with Dublin club champions St Brigid's, scoring 1-18 in his five county championship games alone. There have been several calls to give Gallagher a chance to try out with the Dublin panel.

Dublin open their competitive season against Carlow in Sunday's O'Byrne Cup, although no invitation is likely to be given to Gallagher to join the panel until after St Brigid's conclude their club championship run, which continues with the All-Ireland semi-final against An Gaeltacht on February 22nd.

In the meantime, some sort of formal decision on the issue is likely to be made at county board level.

"This is going to be a general discussion," said Bailey, "and we're not getting tied to individual names. People wanted to discuss the issue, and I don't foresee any problems in bringing in players from outside Dublin if the attitudes are changing.

"But of course it is a sensitive issue, and there are a lot of things that have to be considered, such as protecting the players we have in Dublin at the moment."

Dublin has a long-standing tradition of using only players born in the county, particularly for football purposes. Yet the county board doesn't have a bye-law preventing players born outside the county from joining the panel, and Dublin's current substitute goalkeeper Brian Murphy hails from Kerry, the county he represented up to minor level. The issue also was raised at the last county board meeting before Christmas, although Bailey adjourned the debate at that stage to allow delegates to discuss it with their clubs.

Initially, Dublin manager Tommy Lyons came out against the idea of using players born outside the county, no matter how well they appeared to be playing for a Dublin club, although when last consulted on the issue he said it was " a matter for the county board".

Bailey suggested the board would be willing to move with any shift in attitude: "If the manager puts a request to us we will always consider it. But the question is, does the manager want the player?"

What is not being questioned is that Gallagher is among the most talented forwards in the country. The player himself has stayed clear of the debate, but since leaving Fermanagh few doubt his intentions. Dublin are also far from overburdened with talented centre forwards, though it remains to be seen how much longer the selectors can hold back from putting out the best players available to them.

Gallagher was due to play for the Dublin Blue Stars in last Sunday's challenge against the county representatives, but a minor knee injury - which has since cleared - forced him to watch the game from the sidelines. In the process he also avoided any extra speculation about his future.

When Dublin football was last in the news for the transfer of players it involved movement in the other direction, with Declan Darcy, who was born in the county, returning from Leitrim, whom he captained to Connacht football success in 1994.

The other issue pressing on Dublin GAA, the role of dual players, will be addressed in the more immediate future. According to Bailey, a meeting is being arranged between hurling manager Humphrey Kelleher and Lyons for early next week.

"I don't see why we can't come to some arrangement on this matter," said Bailey. "It may mean a bit of give and take from the two managers, and the good of Dublin as a whole must always come first. But the question of the player being capable of playing both codes at senior level has to be asked as well."

Bailey, meanwhile, confirmed that the new floodlights at Parnell Park would be installed by the end of the next month. Although there were no plans to stage any of the football or hurling league matches under the lights, the option would be considered for next season.

Cork have already fixed their opening NFL game against Westmeath for the floodlit venue of Páirc Uí Rinn on January 31st, and will consider the same venue for their other home games against Mayo, Longford and Fermanagh.

It has also been confirmed that venues for the All-Ireland club hurling and football semi-finals, set for February 15th and 22nd respectively, will be decided by the Games Administration Committee on January 17th.