O'Byrne Cup Semi-final:Dublin selector David Billings has echoed Carlow's concerns about the timing of tonight's postponed O'Byrne Cup semi-final in Parnell Park. Paul Bealin, Carlow's manager, had complained that getting through rush-hour traffic would make the journey particularly arduous.
"I agree with him," said Billings. "Even from our point of view we have players coming from all over the city and getting there for a 7.30 start is difficult. A later start would have been preferable. It is an amateur game and people have to work."
The match was postponed from last Saturday afternoon because of the persistent rain but with the final scheduled for next Sunday and with tonight's winners having home advantage, the fixture, which will be shown live on Setanta Ireland, has to be concluded this week.
"I fully understand that it's no one's fault that the fixture had to be rescheduled," said Bealin, "but we had to travel to Horeswood to play Wexford already. It's very difficult during the week and we'll possibly need a police escort if we get delayed on the way to the Dublin game.
"I understand that we have to facilitate someone but at what cost? Did anyone take into consideration that we have to travel and even though it's only an hour's drive, do we hit the M50 or do we chance going through town? We could be sitting on the bus for up to two-and-a-half hours and it's hardly ideal preparation."
Dublin will start the same team that defeated Westmeath in the quarter-final 10 days ago. Manager Paul Caffrey has a full pick at his disposal apart from the first-choice centrefield of recent years, as Ciarán Whelan is resting and Shane Ryan is currently injured.
Bealin has to plan without midfielder Daithí Byrne and centre back John Keogh. Byrne and Keogh are on a skiing trip abroad.
On the plus side, Mark Nolan (back) and Joe Roche (chest infection) have been passed fit to play.
Managers attended Croke Park last night for a briefing session on the new match regulations issued for the season, an update on the disciplinary reforms currently under consideration. The meeting also heard Dr Pat O'Neill's presentation on the findings of the Burnout Committee, whose recommendations go before next Saturday's special congress.
