FOOTBALL CHALLENGE/Dublin 3-10 Dubs Stars 3-8:DUBLIN WILL now have to bring in 11 new players into their squad for their O'Byrne Cup clash with Carlow next Sunday.
Pat Gilroy revealed yesterday that of the 32 players present last September the All-Ireland champions will now have only 13 of their winning squad available with college commitments and injuries impacting on resources.
“We probably only have 13 of last year’s panel available for the O’Byrne Cup between colleges and injuries and are forced to have 11 who weren’t there last year, so it’s a good opportunity to see how they can get on. We’ll probably have close to our full squad back by January 20th, with fellas coming back from operations and that sort of thing,” he said.
Gilroy got to cast an eye over potential talent when his Dublin team shaded the contest with the Dubs Stars club selection at Thomas Davis’s GAA grounds on Kiltipper Road.
Alan Brogan showed he still had a grip on his footballer of the year form when he crashed in a superb early goal and grabbed 1-2 in a cameo. Midfielder Michael Dara Macauley also showed off his All Star credentials.
Interestingly, Eamon Fennell was trialled with some success in a new berth as a target man full forward.
The Dubs Stars featured a strong contingent from county champions St Brigid’s, with Paddy Andrews expected to get a fresh crack at a Dublin senior career. Another who could earn a recall is Lucan defender Stephen O’Shaughnessy.
Elsewhere, Ross McConnell looked like a man eager to make up for lost time after he was only a bit part player in 2011 through a hip injury.
Local Thomas Davis favourite Paul Hudson kicked two fine points, while former Armagh panellist John Murtagh looked lively and Laois star John O’Loughlin braved the freezing wind to play in the football clash having also featured in the hurling curtain-raiser.
The All-Ireland celebrations will be put on hold from tomorrow when the Dubs are officially back in the new season harness and Gilroy says they intend to repeat their infamous January schedule of 6am training sessions.
“We will do a bit of that because we have a good bit of catching up to do. I suppose others might have been doing a little bit during the winter so we need to do what we have done for the last couple of years,” explained Gilroy.
“The Dublin championship went on to nearly November so a lot of lads kept on going after the All-Ireland and might have had a bit more football played. Looking at guys there; they are in reasonable enough shape and we’ll find out on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, the Dublin manager stated that they won’t be looking to replace team trainer Mickey Whelan after the St Vincent’s icon stepped down following the All-Ireland triumph.
“We are going to belt away. There were lads involved last year who were doing it (training) and we will start off with those same people and I’ve been sitting down with Mickey talking about the stuff we did last year and we have it all very well documented so we’ll press on,” he added.
DUBLIN: M Savage; M Fitzsimons, P McMahon, D Daly; J Small, J McCarthy, D Lally; MD Macauley (1-0), C Murphy (0-1); P Brogan, A Brogan (1-2), D Nelson; P Andrews, E O’Gara, M McCarthy (0-3,one free). Subs used (multiple inter changes allowed): K McManamon (1-0), N Devereaux, P Casey, R Corcoran (0-1), E Fennell, B Kelly (0-3, frees).
DUBS STARS: S Supple; G Norton, S Murray, Martin Cahill; K Connolly, S O’Shaughnessy, G Kane (0-1); D Byrne, R McConnell (1-1, one 45); A Hubbard, J Murtagh (0-3, one free), Mark Cahill; J O’Loughlin, K Darcy (1-1, one free), P Hudson (0-2). Subs used: Philip Brogan for Supple (ht), P Ryan (1-0), P Bollard.
Referee: G McCormack.
