Dublin drop Croke Park plan

The Dublin County Board have abandoned plans to stage their opening game in the National Football League at Croke Park.

Having being drawn at home against the All-Ireland champions Tyrone, they were set to explore the possibility of using Croke Park instead of their normal home venue of Parnell Park, as they did for last year's opening venture against then All-Ireland champions Armagh.

But yesterday the county chairman, John Bailey, admitted those plans had been shelved. The February 1st game is now sure to be a sell-out at Parnell Park, which holds just under 11,000, although it has yet to be decided if it will be an all-ticket affair.

Last year's game at Croke Park against Armagh attracted 54,432 - a record crowd for a regular league match.

"Last year we promoted the game in association with Croke Park," said Bailey. "We hadn't got any request from Croke Park to do the same this year, so we've decided against trying to do it, and have reverted back to our normal home venue. And Parnell Park is well capable of staging this game."

Although a significant number of last year's attendance of 54,432 included schoolchildren who had been admitted for free, it proved the biggest crowd at Croke Park until Dublin returned to play Louth in the championship on June 1st. A total of 63,756 attended that day, which was a double-bill with Meath against Westmeath.

Tyrone supporters are expected to travel in large numbers for the game and another attendance close to 50,000 could have been anticipated. There were, however, question marks over the success of last year's game at Croke Park, not least that Dublin were heavily beaten.

In the meantime, Dublin start their competitive season on Sunday in the more humble surroundings of Dr Cullen Park, where they face Carlow in round two of the O'Byrne Cup. Manager Tommy Lyons has practically a full panel of players to choose from, with forward Alan Brogan, who is in Australia, among the few exceptions.

Among the injury concerns is Tomás Quinn, who has been troubled by a groin injury, although it is not thought to be serious. The team is due to be finalised after training tomorrow night, with Ciarán Whelan acting as captain before a final appointment.

Defending O'Byrne Cup champions Kildare also come into action on Sunday when they face Westmeath in Mullingar.

Manager Pádraig Nolan will be without team captain Dermot Earley, who was eligible to play for three teams on Sunday (Kildare, NUIG and the Defence Forces), and who in the end settled on representing NUIG in the Connacht league against Mayo.

With the countdown to the start of the football league continuing, Fermanagh have accelerated their search for a replacement for Dominic Corrigan. Interviews have concluded and a recommendation is to be put before the county board within the next week. Caretaker manager Seán O'Reilly takes charge for Sunday's McKenna Cup game against Cavan.

Limerick are hoping to acquire the services of Mayo football forward Maurice Horan.

If Horan - who works in Limerick and plays for the Monaleen club - agrees to switch counties, he could make his debut against Waterford in the McGrath Cup semi final on Sunday week.

Finally, while the Wexford hurlers are enjoying a holiday in San Francisco, one senior player, Dave Guiney, has stayed at home to protest over the players' partners not being invited on the trip, even though they make their own sacrifices for the team over the course of the year.