Dublin hurling manager Marty Morris is confident that dual player conflicts won't inhibit the make-up of his panel in the coming months, despite the fact that another hurling specialist, David O'Callaghan, has been given his first competitive start for the senior footballers in Sunday's O'Byrne Cup game against Wicklow.
O'Callaghan was one of the key forwards in Dublin's successful minor and under-21 hurling campaigns of recent years, but like several emerging players in the county has shown great aptitude in both codes. Dual players Shane Ryan and Liam Óg Ó hEineachain will also start for the footballers on Sunday, while Conal Keaney, another hurling specialist, played a part in the Blue Stars football challenge last weekend.
Up to now, however, football manager Tommy Lyons has been against players representing both codes at senior level. As a result Ryan dropped off the hurling panel last year to concentrate on football, but Morris said yesterday that he didn't fear another withdrawal of players from the hurling panel.
"It's certainly not an issue with us at the moment," he said. "What's happening in the coming weeks is that the footballers are out before us in the league, and so naturally they would get first choice of players.
"And I've had a talk with Tommy Lyons about it, and it was a very friendly talk. It has helped as well that his three selectors are all old friends of mine, so we're definitely all singing from the same hymn sheet on this one."
With the majority of Dublin's senior footballers on holiday in Cape Town, Sunday's team was always going to include several new selections. Morris also felt that last season there was extra pressure on players to concentrate on one or other code.
"I'm not pre-supposing in any way where Tommy is going in developing his panel over the coming months," he said, "but I think last year was a little different in that he was new to the job, and it was his first season in charge.
"So Tommy had to draw a line in the sand, so to speak, and be clear on what players he had available to him. Because of the success he had last year I don't think Tommy will be taking such a tough stance this year. And the fact that I'm in the position he was this time 12 months ago is also likely to help.
"But I know we will both be looking at our training schedules, and if we do need to make some sort of compromise on a couple of players then we will try to do that."
There is evidence, however, that the dual player continues to head towards extinction. "I think it is very tough," added Morris, "and realistically you are better off concentrating on the one game. But the hurling situation in Dublin is a little different in that given the chance players will always take their chance with the footballers first.
"If you remember Mick Holden, he was always best known as a hurler but then he was more than happy to take his chance with the footballers, and win a couple of All-Ireland medals as well."
"But the fact is that we're only talking about one or two senior dual players in Dublin at the moment. There might be several more that are on the periphery of the football team and playing hurling as well, but there are no more than one or two players who might have a genuine conflict between the two codes."
Morris introduced six newcomers to his side in the Blue Stars challenge last weekend, and will play two further challenge games this Sunday (firstly against DIT, and then Wicklow) in preparation for the upcoming Walsh Cup match against Meath. He has also completed his selection team by adding Naomh Fionnbarra's Nicky Kehoe last weekend to his team of Mick O'Riordan (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh) and Tommy Ryan (Craobh Chiarain).
Morris is also eagerly awaiting the appointment of Dublin's new full-time director of hurling - who will work closely with current and future management teams.
"That position is part of the blueprint for the future of Dublin hurling," says Morris, "and on the whole is very innovative.
"I know the county board have someone in mind, but I don't know who. What is important is that they are pledging their full support for hurling Dublin, and the new director will be a great help to the all hurling management teams in the county."
The Dublin County Board has announced ticket information for the opening National Football League game against Armagh at Croke Park (February 2nd). From January 20th tickets will be available from Parnell Park, Croke Park, Arnotts and through all clubs in the county - priced at €20 for a family ticket, €12 for the stand, and €10 for Hill 16.
Elsewhere, new Kildare manager Padraig Nolan has named several newcomers in his team for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup quarter-final against Westmeath at Newbridge. Enda Noons and Andrew McLoughlin both make defensive debuts, as does Eamonn Callaghan. Aidan McHugh partners Killian Brennan at midfield, while Karl Ennis and John O'Donoghue start in attack.
New Donegal manager Brian McEniff, however, has stuck with a proven formula for his McKenna Cup game against Cavan. One of the few adjustments sees last year's forward Paul McGonigle moving to midfield to replace the retired John Gildea.
KILDARE (SF v Westmeath): E Murphy; B Lacey, E Noons, A McLoughlin; E Callaghan, D Hendy, P Mullarkey; K Brennan, A McHugh; K Ennis, P Hurley, J Doyle; P Brennan, J O'Donoghue, T Rossiter.
DONEGAL (SF v Cavan): T Blake; S Carr, E Doherty, N McGinley; D Diver, R Sweeney, Kevin Cassidy; J McGuinness, P McGonigle; C Toye, M Hegarty, K Rafferty; J Gallagher, A Sweeney, B McLaughlin.
