Dublin hit as Byrne retires

TEAM NEWS: Dublin's goalkeeper options for the rest of the National Football League were hit yesterday by the sudden retirement of regular number one Davy Byrne. Recurring injuries and family commitments were the main reasons behind the 30-year-old's decision.

Byrne has informed Dublin manager Tommy Lyons that he no longer wants to be considered for the panel and both men have amicably agreed on the matter.

A member of Ballymun Kickhams, Byrne was part of the All-Ireland winning Dublin panel in 1995, then took over full-time following John O'Leary's retirement and made his senior championship debut against Kildare in 1998.

Since the start of this league Lyons has used under-21 goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton of Parnells and Brian Murphy of Naomh Barrog, a former Kerry minor. Cluxton played against Donegal and Tyrone, with Murphy taking over last Saturday against Offaly. Byrne was the substitute goalkeeper for those last two games.

Lyons has delayed naming his team for Sunday's league game against Westmeath at Parnell Park, mainly because a significant number are likely to be involved in Saturday's Leinster under-21 game against Carlow - including Cluxton.

There are also a few injury problems, especially at midfield. Darren Homan has a calf injury and missed the match against Offaly last Saturday, and Ciarán Whelan and Ken Darcy are also carrying knocks from that game. Darren Magee is in line for a place on the under-21 side, as are panellists Barry Cahill, Paul Casey, Conor Murphy and Alan Brogan.

Meanwhile, Kerry manager Páidí Ó Sé makes some experiments for Sunday's Division 2A league game away to Limerick. Into the defence comes Marc Ó Sé at corner back, the spot he filled as a substitute in the win over Antrim last Sunday week, with Michael McCarthy moving to full back in place of Barry O'Shea.

Sean O'Sullivan and Ian Twiss get starting places in the attack - both also appeared as substitutes in the win over Antrim - as indirect swaps for the injured Shaun McGinley and Mike Frank Russell. Still no sign, however, of Maurice Fitzgerald.

KERRY (SF v Limerick): D O'Keeffe; J Sheehan, M McCarthy, M Ó Sé; E Fitzmaurice, S Moynihan, T Ó Sé; D Ó Sé, E Brosnan; S O'Sullivan, N Kennelly, A MacGearailt; D Quill, D Ó Cinnéide, I Twiss. Subs: D Murphy, E Galvin, P Galvin, F Kelliher, J Crowley, K Dillon, T O'Sullivan.