Dublin forced to experiment in O'Byrne opener

Dublin are forced to test several new faces in tonight's O'Byrne Cup clash with UCD, their first competitive game of the new season. A combination of injury and unavailability means as few as four regular players are likely to feature, with the majority of others emerging under-21s.

"Obviously it's going to be a very experimental line-up," says team trainer Brian Talty.

"Right now we only have about four or five of our regulars, the likes of Barry Cahill, Tomás Quinn, Alan Brogan, and Coman Goggins.

"We also only had our first collective training session last Tuesday. Players were doing a lot of work in the gym on their own, and almost all of them have been playing club league football right up until the end of December. I actually think it's a little crazy that there really isn't an off-season for any of them."

The game starts at 8pm at the O'Toole's club grounds in Coolock. Among those set to debut for Dublin are Niall O'Shea, Seán Brehony from the St Jude's club, Eamonn Fennell from O'Toole's, and Kevin Bonner from St Brigid's.

Several Dublin players are committed to DCU, the Kilmacud Crokes contingent are preparing for their All-Ireland club semi-final with a team holiday in Lanzarote, while Colin Moran, Stephen O'Shaughnessy and Senan Connell are injured.

"I still think the O'Byrne Cup is of huge value," added Talty, "especially since the league doesn't start now until February. It's usually a good, competitive game for this time of year, but most of all it's a great opportunity to try out new players ahead of the league.

"We have had a lot of league trial matches before over the last few weeks and have brought a few new players into the panel, most of which have moved up from the under-21 team.

"But we are expecting a tough challenge from UCD. I think most of the UCD team have had some intercounty experience. And they're always very strong. I know Dave Billings will be mad to beat us, so I think it's a good opportunity for them as well."

Westmeath, meanwhile, will next week welcome back midfielder Rory O'Connell, who announced his retirement from intercounty football at the end of last summer, only to reverse his decision in recent weeks.

O'Connell was Westmeath's first All Star winner back in 2001, and at his best is among the best midfielders in the country. Team selector Paddy Collins described his return as "brilliant news, which has given everyone involved with the panel a massive boost for the weeks and months ahead".

Two years ago, O'Connell secured a High Court injunction against a suspension to play a major part in Westmeath's first Leinster senior championship success, and his retirement last August did seem premature. He put it down to a combination of things, including a loss of hunger and also a new job in Galway, but, not surprisingly, he's been welcomed back with open arms.

Westmeath have recently been quoted as 20 to 1 for the Leinster championship, but O'Connell's return could see those odds being narrowed soon.

GAA officials in Connacht have introduced a "golden score" to decide games which finish level after extra-time in the provincial hurling league.

The Ireland West Connacht Hurling League gets under way this weekend with all four quarter-finals down for decision. Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo will field their county senior teams along with the college teams from NUIG, GMIT and Sligo IT.

The competition is completed by a Galway Development team, the Maroon Stars, which features some of the most promising players from the county.

The Connacht council have instructed that extra-time will be played if games finish level. Games which finish level at the end of extra-time will be won by the first team to score in the next period.