Dublin happy to be tested

Dublin probably hadn't reckoned on playing Carlow twice in six days as part of their preparations for the National Football league, but it's a situation manager Paul Caffrey is apparently embracing.

After the tense and quite dramatic draw in Parnell Park on Tuesday night, their O'Byrne Cup semi-final replay has been set for Dr Cullen Park in Carlow this Sunday, with a 2.0 start.

As a result, the tournament final, originally set for Sunday with Longford awaiting the winners of the Dublin-Carlow replay, has been deferred to the end of next month.

"The more time fellas can get on the pitch - and the more they can show whether they are up to it or not - the better," says Caffrey. "January is all about looking at the players you have, and then we usually get the panel down to the low 30s for the league. That's still our aim."

Dublin will begin their league campaign another six days later with the floodlight clash against Westmeath in Parnell Park on Saturday week.

Caffrey has tried out several new players in the O'Byrne Cup - some were more successful than others - although Tuesday's game did come at some cost. Full forward Declan O'Mahony is suspended after receiving a straight red card, and newcomer Paul Brogan also retired early through injury and is unlikely to feature in the replay.

"It was a tough game of football, exactly what you'd want at this time of the year," added Caffrey. "It was real character-forming stuff. Several times it looked like we were beaten in there, but to their credit, they dug in and dug in. And I think a draw was a fair result on the night.

"It was a massive showing by both teams, and great credit to them. That's the kind of challenge you want in January, and the way fellas apply themselves. I'm very proud of the Dublin players. They played a lot of that game a man down, and still managed to come away with the replay."

Jason Sherlock was a late withdrawal from Tuesday's game because of a slight hamstring strain, a mostly cautionary measure given he is due out tomorrow evening with his club St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh in the county league final, against St Vincent's, along with the other of the Brogan brothers, Alan and Bernard.

While Tuesday's draw was seen as something of a surprise, Dublin had in fact lost their previous O'Byrne Cup meeting with Carlow, in 2004.

Dublin's thorough league preparations are in total contrast to fellow Division Two side Cork, who appear certain to miss the opening rounds of the league, in both football and hurling.

News yesterday that newly appointed football manager Teddy Holland has no intention of stepping down from his position makes any compromise in the ongoing players' strike appear further off than ever, as both the football and hurling panels have insisted he must go before any resolution can be found.

Cork are also due out in round one on Saturday week, away to Meath, but it's hard to imagine how that game can go ahead given the entrenched stance of the players and county board in their disagreement over the appointment of county selectors, the apparently simple cause of the now highly inflamed strike.

Elsewhere, Dublin hurling manager Tommy Naughton has confirmed Stephen Hiney as new team captain for the coming year, to replace Philip Brennan. Hiney's first game in his new role was due to be Sunday's Walsh Cup Shield game against Westmeath, in Mullingar, but Dublin have withdrawn from the remainder of the competition, and that game will not take place.

Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan has made two team changes from that which defeated Limerick IT for next Sunday's McGrath Cup final against Clare. Seán Kiely returns in goal in place of Mike Jones, while Pa Ranaghan takes over from Tom Cahill at left half back.

Forward Michael Reidy has rejoined the panel but will not be travelling to Cooraclare, while rugby recruit Jim O'Donovan is still working towards full fitness after missing the entire McGrath Cup campaign so far with a knee problem.

LIMERICK (SF v Clare):S Kiely; S Walsh, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranaghan; J Galvin, J Cooke; A Lane, D Phelan, S Buckley; I Ryan, J Murphy (capt), G Collins.