Dublin will miss Curran's experience

The increased commitment, coupled with diminishing enthusiasm, were the main reasons behind Paul Curran's decision to retire from intercounty football.

After 14 years on the senior team, and now aged 33, his announcement yesterday not to return to the panel this season was hardly surprising, yet it deprives manager Tommy Lyons of the most experienced and successful player of the current era.

Curran won almost every possible honour in the game, the highlight being Dublin's last All-Ireland success in 1995 and also three All Star awards and a Footballer of the Year award. He made 50 championship appearances for Dublin after debuting in 1989 and also helped his club Thomas Davis to win Dublin and Leinster football titles.

While admitting to have given a lot of thought to the decision, Curran also suggested that the commitments of the modern game had become excessive.

"The demands are professional in an amateur arena," he said, "and the treatment of players will have to get better."

Curran indicated his thoughts to Lyons during the team holiday to South Africa in January, but at that point Lyons convinced him to at least defer the decision for a while.

Since his senior debut at corner back against Kildare in 1989, Curran has been central to either the Dublin full-back or half-back line, and, in more recent years, was the number one choice at right half back.

Last summer, however, Curran struggled with a series of injuries, including ankle and hamstring, and only started in the Leinster final win over Kildare - where he was later substituted by Darren Magee.

He himself was a substitute in the quarter-final win over Wexford, and again in the All-Ireland quarter-final replay against Donegal.

Curran played under six different Dublin managers, although he temporarily announced his retirement after Tommy Carr had his contract controversially ended in October 2001.

Lyons was quick to bring him back into the frame, a move that helped secure his sixth Leinster medal. It means only Jason Sherlock, Dessie Farrell and Jim Gavin remain in the frame from the All-Ireland success of eight years ago.

Lyons, meanwhile, will later today announce his team to play Roscommon in Sunday's penultimate round of the league.

A home win for Roscommon would put them in reach of a semi-final place. Forwards Alan Brogan and Jason Sherlock remain the main Dublin injury concerns.

For Lyons's hurling counterpart Marty Morris, victory over Waterford last Sunday has kept his team in the hunt for the top section of the upcoming second series - and a win over Laois in Parnell Park would keep those hopes alive until the final series game against Kilkenny.

As expected, Morris has made the minimum of changes from the team that beat Waterford by two points. Former captain David Sweeney returns to midfield in place of Thomas Holden, while Paul McDonald has been given a starting place in the full-forward line instead of Michael Carton, who plays with the Dublin Colleges team in Sunday's Leinster hurling final.

"Obviously, the win over Waterford came at exactly the right time," said Morris. "Of course, this is a huge game for Laois as well, but we've got the shot in the arm now and I think we can carry on the momentum."

Kilkenny remain the leaders of Division One B, but that could change after Sunday's meeting with Clare - who also have three wins.

Manager Brian Cody welcomes back forwards Henry Shefflin and Charlie Carter, and has made six changes in total from the team that beat Laois last Sunday.

DUBLIN (SH v Laois): G Ryan; C Wilson, L O'Donoghue, C Meehan; K Wilson, S Perkins, S Hiney; C Keaney, D Sweeney; T Moore, L Ryan, S McDonnell; T McGrane, P McDonald, K Flynn.

KILKENNY (SH v Clare): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, T Walsh; S Grehan, H Shefflin, W O'Dwyer; C Carter, M Comerford, E Brennan.

ROSCOMMON (SF v Dublin): S Curran; J Whyte, D Casey, T Cox; B Higgins, F Grehan, M Beirne; S O'Neill, A Nolan; C Connelly, G Cox, S Lohan; N Dineen, C Mannion, F Dolan.

CORK (SF v Donegal): K O'Dwyer; N O'Donovan, A O'Connor, A Lynch; S Levis, E Sexton, N O'Leary; N Murphy, G Canty; J O'Donoghue, BJ O'Sullivan, J Miskella; J O'Shea, M O Croinin, C Crowley.