Bailey has confidence in management and players

THE doom and gloom currently swirling around in Dublin football circles hasn't been evident since the pre 1974 days. Dublin, All Ireland champions just two years ago, find themselves in a fight for survival in Division Two of the National Football League with no realistic chance of making the money making knock out stages - and facing the prospect of over three months competitive inactivity before their Leinster Championship quarter final with holders Meath, a match scheduled for June 15th.

Dublin's plight, at least as far as the league is concerned, appears desperate. Just one win in five league games so far means the team's remaining two matches against Monaghan (Sunday week) and Laois (March 2nd) have taken on a quite different significance in light of last Sunday's defeat to Louth.

Rather than using the games as a springboard towards possible promotion, Dublin are now fending off relegation to Division Three and, also, attempting to establish confidence for the championship which is some way down the road.

If Mickey Whelan were a professional soccer manager, he might baulk at a vote of confidence from a chairman. But Dublin County Board chairman John Bailey, while sharing the frustration of the team's supporters, has issued a "don't panic" message to all and sundry.

He admitted: "The Louth match was a shattering, disappointing result and we will need all sorts of miracles to have any hope of making the play offs now. It is a frustrating situation. But I have every confidence in the management and the players. There is great co operation and team spirit, all are aware there is a job to be done and are putting in an incredible amount of work.

"The County Board has every faith in the boys (selectors), they know they have a job to do and, although the Louth defeat left everyone shattered, we're sure things can be lifted for the Monaghan match," said Bailey.

Dublin manager Whelan and fellow selectors Chris Kane and Lorcan Redmond are in the second year of a two year stint in charge of the team and Bailey insisted there was "no question" of any moves to change the status quo prior to the championship.

Meanwhile, Kane has dismissed a story that goalkeeper and former captain John O'Leary was axed from the panel before Sunday's defeat to Louth. It was claimed that O'Leary refused to undergo a fitness test request by Whelan on Thursday night last on his injured groin.

"The reality of the situation is that John was present at training last Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He has been troubled by a groin strain for the past few months and, although he can train, he can't kick a dead ball. It is nonsense to suggest John has been axed from the panel. He is still very much a major part of our plans," said Kane.

After last Sunday's full programme of National Football League games, this coming weekend slips back to being a rather quiet period with just two games - the Railway Cup football final between Leinster and Connacht and a NFL Division Four back match between Fermanagh and Tipperary occupying the fixtures calendar. Leinster and Connacht are both expected to finalise their teams tomorrow night.

However, a large number of inter county footballers will have competitive fare on their minds over the coming days with eight Sigerson Cup matches down for decision tomorrow and Thursday.

. Wexford County Secretary Mick Kinsella has moved to allay Carlow fears that the All Ireland hurling champions were moving in on players from the neighbouring county.

The Carlow County Board have planned to discuss at their meeting on Thursday the consequences of a motion passed at the Wexford convention which, it was subsequently claimed, would enable Wexford clubs to take players from a territory traditionally associated with Carlow club St Mullins.

The motion, presented by the Rathgargue/Cushinstown and Rathnure clubs, asked that players sandwiched in an area in the Kildare and Leighlin diocese be eligible to play for the Wexford clubs.

Kinsella explained: "This move will not affect Carlow in any shape or form whatsoever. A gentleman's agreement has existed between the two clubs for many years that children in Rathgarogue could choose whichever club they wanted to play for, often depending on the allegiance of their parents. However, there was some problem last year which prevent a number of juveniles from playing for anyone and this was merely a paperwork exercise to make sure there would be no repeat problems in the future.

. The scoreline for the National Football League Division Two match in yesterday morning's sports supplement giving Leitrim victory over Armagh was incorrect. The match was a draw, Leitrim 0-12 Armagh 1-9.