Ballymun are confident Rock will be ready to feature in replay

Dublin and Leinster champions Ballymun Kickhams are confident influential forward Dean Rock will be ready to play his part in tomorrow evening's final replay in Parnell Park.

Rock had to be replaced because of a knee injury during the weekend’s match, which went to extra-time after St Vincent’s pulled back a five-point deficit in injury-time.

"At first we didn't know what the situation was," according to Ballymun manager Paul Curran, "the knee had just swelled up and although Dean felt better afterwards all we could do was ice it. I was talking to him earlier today and he was very positive so we're keeping our fingers crossed."

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Jason Whelan, however, won't be available to assist the champions. A member of Dublin's league winning panel, Whelan missed the county semi-final and last Sunday's final through a four-week suspension and won't have served his time by tomorrow evening.

“He’s a couple of days short,” according to Curran, “and would have been eligible to come back on Saturday, so it’s tough for him.”

Curran doesn’t believe his team are showing signs of tiredness after reaching last March’s All-Ireland final, which they narrowly lost to Roscommon champions St Brigid’s.

“No, I think everything’s going quite well for us. We haven’t been really pushed on the run so far this year, although St Jude’s were a test so it was a bit of a step up for us on Sundays because Vincent’s are fairly battle- hardened. We should have closed out the game but the mood was good afterwards.

“I don’t believe fatigue’s a factor for these fellas.”