Opportunity knocks for Ballyboden contingent in Dublin’s season opener

If pre-season football competitions such as the O’Byrne Cup offer an ideal opportunity for experimentation then Dublin are keen to avail of the chance. Only a select few of Jim Gavin’s All-Ireland-winning team will feature in Sunday’s opening round against Wexford as they look to continue their unbeaten streak into 2016 with the title that kicked off their winning campaign of the year just gone.

Before that however comes Dublin’s traditional New Year’s Day blow-out in the Dubs Stars football and hurling challenge games, which take place in the grounds of the Kilmacud Crokes club in Stillorgan. Several players from Gavin’s All-Ireland team will be on display here, including Jonny Cooper, Jack McCaffrey, Michael Darragh Macauley and Diarmuid Connolly.

Slim pickings

They’re all named as part of the Dub Stars football team which will face a Dublin selection, yet to be confirmed given Gavin’s relatively slim pickings. The Dub Stars team, made up of the best players from the Dublin club championships, also features seven players from Leinster club football champions Ballyboden St Enda’s: Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan; Dublin Footballer of the Year Darragh Nelson; Stephen Hiney, Shane Clayton, Macauley, Ryan Basquel and Andrew Kerin;

Among the Dublin players not available on the day are goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton who got married on New Year’s Eve – and the recently retired Alan Brogan.

That football challenge game (2.0) is preceded by the hurling equivalent (12.30), where hurling manager Ger Cunningham will also field a largely fringe team.

The Dubs Stars hurling selection features eight players from county champions Cuala: goalkeeper Seán Brennan, plus Cian O’Callaghan; fellow defenders, Oisín Gough and Seán Moran along with midfielder Darragh O’Connell (the Kerry native) and forwards Colm Cronin, David Treacy and Mark Schutte.

The Dubs Stars football team will be managed by Ballyboden St Enda’s Andy McEntee, with Mattie Kenny from Cuala taking charge of the hurlers.

Wexford manager David Power has named his starting 15 for Sunday’s O’Byrne Cup clash against the Dubs while also confirming that PJ Banville and Dáithí Waters will be returning to his panel in the New Year. Banville spent 2015 with the New York footballers, but has now relocated home, while Waters has also committed to football after focusing on hurling last year.

Ideal boost

Among those missing through injury are Ciarán Lyng, Graeme Molloy, Shane Roche and Michael Furlong, while Rob Tierney is on holidays. Still it’s a relatively strong Wexford team:

“PJ has committed to the football set-up for 2016,” confirmed Power. “Along with Dáithí Waters, who has returned from the hurlers, they will provide an ideal boost to the younger players in the set-up. It’s a big boost that both will be available to us next year, particularly as we seek promotion back to Division Three of the league.

“And what better than to start the year against the All-Ireland champions.”

That game takes place at O’Kennedy Park in New Ross (2.0).  Dublin will continue the round-robin phase against IT Carlow (Parnell Park, 7.30 on Wednesday) and then against DCU on Sunday week.

Meanwhile new Mayo football manager Stephen Rochford has announced his first squad since taking charge ahead of their FBD League clash against NUI Galway at MacHale Park in Castlebar (2.0). Rochford’s 23-man preliminary panel features several familiar names such as Rob Hennelly, Ger Cafferkey, Jason Doherty, Kevin McLoughlin and Tom Parsons.

Among those missing out through injury or other commitments are Cillian O’Connor, Aidan O’Shea and Lee Keegan. The youngest O’Shea brother, Conor, along with Diarmuid O’Connor and Evan Regan are also college tied, with O’Shea lining out with NUIG against his native county.