Caffrey hits the ground running

Paul Caffrey has wasted no time in getting down to business in his new role as Dublin senior football manager. He met the players last Friday night, has planned a series of training sessions before Christmas and has arranged a challenge game, against Louth, for next Friday week

Caffrey has also announced that the Dublin senior team won't be contesting the O'Bryne Cup tournament at the start of January. The county will instead field its under-21 team, which is now managed by Paddy Canning.

Caffrey's main priority will be establishing a regular panel ahead of the National Football League, which has Dublin starting out on Saturday, February 5th, by playing Mayo under floodlights at Parnell Park.

"Well we're up and running now," said Caffrey yesterday, "and already a work in progress. We met with the players that are there last Friday, and we'll definitely be doing some training sessions this side of Christmas."

Caffrey will also begin laying down more formal plans with his three selectors - Dave Billings, Brian Talty and Paul Clarke. There are also plans to put the existing players through various fitness tests, although Caffrey did indicate that it would be some time before the Dublin panel is in any way finalised.

"This is a whole new management team," he added, "and like anyone in that position we'll look at what we've got, and make adjustments along the way."

Rather than draw immediate and inevitably extra attention to his initial progress, Caffrey agreed it would be better to allow the Dublin under-21 side to compete in the O'Byrne Cup. They'll play Wicklow on Sunday, January 2nd, which will help Canning, who like Caffrey was a selector under previous manager Tommy Lyons, to establish his own panel.

"To be honest we felt Paddy probably needs a game with his panel at that time of the year more than we do," said Caffrey.

In the meantime, the county board are to arrange the final details of the senior challenge against Louth on Friday week.

The full draw for the O'Byrne Cup has been announced. Meath have already booked their passage to the second round with last Saturday's win over Wexford. Seán Boylan's panel were unable to make the January 2nd date because of other commitments. First-named teams will have home venue in all games except those from third level institutions.

Meanwhile, newly installed Carlow football manager Liam Hayes last night explained the reasons behind his decision to step into intercounty management for the first time.

The former Meath midfielder was last month attending a function to celebrate the Carlow team of 1954 when he was first approached by the county board.

"First of all I was honoured to be asked," said Hayes, who was born in Carlow, and whose father played with the county for several years.

"I did give it a lot of thought, but I felt the time was right to make this move, even though I wasn't exactly looking out for a position. But I honestly feel like I'm half a Carlowman and half a Meathman.

"We've a lot of work to do, but I'll meet the players next Monday and take it from there. We'll do some work in December but our number one priority is the league. But I fully believe the players are willing and able to be a success."

Carlow are also due out in the O'Byrne Cup on January 2nd when they play reigning Leinster football champions Westmeath.

O'BYRNE CUP SF: Preliminary round: Trinity v DIT (tba); First round: Jan 2nd: 1. Louth v Preliminary-round winners; 2. Wicklow v Dublin; 3. Longford v UCD; 4. Carlow v Westmeath; 5. Kilkenny v Athlone IT; 6. Laois v Offaly; 7. Kildare v Dundalk IT, 8. Meath; Quarter-finals: Jan 9th: 9. 1 v 2; 10. 3 v 4; 11. 5 v 6; 12. 7 v 8; Semi-finals: Jan 16th: 13. 9 v 10; 14. 11 v 12; Final: Jan 23rd: 13 v 14.

WALSH CUP SH: Quarter-finals: Jan 30th: 1. Wexford v UCD; 2. Laois v Antrim; 3. Offaly v Down; 4. Dublin v Kilkenny; Semi-finals: Feb 6th): 5. 1 v 2, 6. 3 v 4; Final: Feb 13th: 5 v 6.