Dublin have called up two Kilmacud Crokes players, Robbie Leahy and Maurice Leahy, to make up the numbers for training ahead of their Leinster senior football championship quarterfinal against Kildare at Croke Park on June 7th.
The move to consolidate the panel by including the two Crokes players, both winners of All-Ireland club medals with the south county club under the management of current Offaly boss Tommy Lyons, is deemed essential following further injuries to key players.
Defender Paddy Christie is the latest casualty. He went over on an ankle in training on Tuesday, less than a week after fellow defender Keith Galvin broke a bone in his foot.
"The ankle was reasonably bad. We don't expect him to be running about before we have the injury looked at on Tuesday next," said selector John O'Leary.
The Ballymun Kickhams defender is, however, hopeful of being fit to face Mick O'Dwyer's men, as is Ian Robertson. The hamstring injury picked up by Ciaran Whelan in last Saturday's challenge against Cavan is a cause for concern in the Dublin camp.
Meanwhile, Antrim corner forward Micky Boyle, who surprisingly walked out of the Antrim dressing-room after training on Tuesday night, has returned to the fold.
Boyle, a long-standing member of the Antrim football attack, was apparently annoyed when he learned he was not going to be in the starting line-up to take on Donegal in the first round of the Ulster championship in Casement Park on Sunday.
The player, who sat his final exams at the University of Jordanstown the following day, indicated last night at training that he is prepared to sit on the bench on Sunday.
The Munster senior football championship clash between Tipperary and Waterford will be played in Clonmel on Saturday week with an 8 p.m. start. The Cork and Kerry semi-final on July 5th will have a 2.40 start to facilitate live television.
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