Private talks on 'outside player' issue

Last night's meeting of the Dublin County Board, called to address the issue of using players from outside the county, was surprisingly held in camera, and the full details are unlikely to be known until later today.

Yet the decision to stage the debate behind closed doors at Parnell Park reflected the sensitive nature of the issue, with feelings in the county running strongly both for and against the use of players not born and bred in Dublin.

Dublin chairman John Bailey had earlier suggested that the meeting was sure to entail a heated debate - which did run late into the night - but that the feelings on the issue were likely to go back to management for consideration. The setting up of a sub-committee to examine in full the implications of formally allowing outsiders into the Dublin county panels was also expected.

Among the other suggested outcomes in the countdown to the meeting was the introduction of a by-law, whereby players who hadn't represented their native county in a certain number of years would then be allowed to try out for Dublin.

Central to the debate, although rarely mentioned in name, was the role of the Gallagher cousins, Rory and Raymond, natives of Fermanagh, who play their football with Dublin club St Brigid's.

Rory hasn't played with his native county in two years, while Raymond announced last month he too was abandoning the wearing of his native jersey for the foreseeable future. While neither has openly admitted his desire to play for Dublin, it seems clear where their intentions lie.