Gilroy names O'Byrne Cup panel
06 January 2010
Dublin manager Pat Gilroy has announced his O'Byrne Cup squad ahead of Sunday's first round clash with Wexford at Parnell Park.
Among the newcomers are Craig Reilly (Trinity Gaels), Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens), Denis Carrigan (St. Mary's, Saggart), Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St. Enda's), Eoghan O'Gara (Templeogue Synge St) and Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams), son of Dubs legend Barney Rock.
As expected, Eamonn Fennell (O'Toole's) and Paul Brogan (St. Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh) have been recalled after injury ruled them out last year but, intriguingly, there is no place in the squad for Conal Keaney, who is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Gilroy and his hurling counterpart Anthony Daly. However, Keaney did take part in yesterday's two training sessions and is tipped to captain the team this year.
Jason Sherlock is another notable absentee from the new-look squad as is Bryan Cullen who is tied to DCU, while none of the Kilmacud Crokes contingent have been included. One of the Kilmacud players, Mark Davoren, took another encouraging step on his road back to full fitness when he took some part in yesterday's training.
The full forward, who has been sidelined since suffering cruciate ligament damage in last June's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Meath, was able to do straight line running during the two sessions.
Dublin (SF panel v Wexford): Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), Craig Reilly (Trinity Gaels), Alan Hubbard (Ballymun Kickhams), Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh), Blaine Kelly (St Mary's, Saggart), Brendan McManamon (St Jude's), Conor McCormack (St Mary's, Saggart), Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens), Dean Kelly (Trinity Gaels), Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams), Denis Carrigan (St Mary's, Saggart), Eoghan O'Gara (Templeogue Synge St), Eamon Fennell (O'Toole's), James Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh), James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Kevin Bonner (St Brigid's), Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda's), Paul Casey (Lucan Sarsfields), Paul Conlon (St Vincent's), Ross McConnell (St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh), Seán Murray (St Brigid's), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis), Tiernan Diamond (St Vincent's) Tomás Quinn (St Vincent's).
i know that this isnt his full squad for the all ireland series, but it does look a lot lightweight. ( i know this is the same every year)
sad to see shane ryan going to the hurlers( good for them though), and good to see conal keaney declaring for the footballers, though why is he left out?
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Ryan predicts big year for Dubs
Dublin's Shane Ryan
11 January 2010
Shane Ryan has backed his former Dublin football team-mates to make a big impact in this year's championship.
The 2008 All-Star, who has quit Pat Gilroy's squad to play out the remainder of his inter-county career with the Dublin hurlers, believes the reigning Leinster champions have the talent to challenge for All-Ireland honours, despite last year's 17-point drubbing at the hands of Kerry.
"I spoke to my uncle Paddy Gogarty over Christmas and he won a few All-Irelands with Dublin the 70's and they came from absolutely nowhere in '73 to win the All-Ireland in '74," Ryan told the Irish Daily Mirror.
"When you look at teams that are at that low ebb and go to the top, Dublin are not that low. There are quality players there and they just need the bit of luck that we haven't had over the last few years.
"An awful lot of successful teams will always have the spine of an experienced team and then you get the freshness of new players coming in. There was a good few new players blooded last year, the likes of Paul Flynn, Ger Brennan coming into the team and they've got a year's experience under their belts now and maybe a bit of new freshness with other fellas coming in.
"There's still a lot of quality there and I'd still be confident they could do a lot of damage in the championship."
Ryan admits that he faces a big challenge to regain his hurling sharpness after an eight-year break from the small ball code.
"It'll be a big challenge but that's why you play the game, for the challenge," he added.
"The challenge at this stage is to try to get up to speed with every other player and that's still a bit away I think. It's a very young squad and that's one of the positives they have. They're not lacking in confidence."