GAELIC GAMES NEWS: DUBLIN HAVE confirmed their participation in next month's O'Byrne Cup - the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, writes IAN O'RIORDAN.
Although the senior team will be away at a warm-weather training camp in Spain under new manager Pat Gilroy, an under-21 team with some senior presence will line out for their opening fixture against Offaly on Sunday, January 4th.
The training camp will run from January 3rd to 10th, meaning that if Dublin do beat Offaly, the under-21/senior selection will most likely play the second round too, against either Wicklow or Carlow, on January 11th.
However, Gilroy will no doubt be keen to get some use of the O'Byrne Cup, where possible, as preparation for the National Football League opener against Tyrone, which is set for the floodlights of Croke Park at the end of next month, January 31st.
Meanwhile, confirmation that the second-round match of the National Hurling League between Tipperary and Cork at Semple Stadium, on the evening of Saturday, February 14th, will be used to mark the opening of the new floodlight facilities at the famous Thurles venue has put yet further pressure on Cork to sort out their player-manager stand-off sooner rather than later.
With no further discussions currently scheduled, it seems increasingly likely the GAA will intervene, with yesterday's release of the 2009 master fixture list a sort of timely reminder that the new season is not far off. GAA president Nickey Brennan hinted at such action earlier this week, saying that "in this life you can never say 'never' . . . (but) as far as we're concerned there is a Cork team, they played a match last week so there is a team that has been put out by the county board. But it has to work its way now and let's see what happens in the new year."
The new Division One format of the hurling league opens on Sunday, February 8th, when champions Tipperary travel to Waterford to take on the side that proved to be only team that defeated Liam Sheedy's team in competitive action in 2008. On the same day, All-Ireland champions Kilkenny travel to face John McIntyre's Galway, Limerick host Clare, and Anthony Daly begins his term at the helm of Dublin against Cork - assuming, once again, they put out a team.
Brennan, meanwhile, last night launched the 12th edition of the annual GAA fan's photographic bible - the 2008 Season of Sundays. Another pictorial document of the season just gone, the Sportsfile photographers have captured every high and low, the drama, joy and sadness of the GAA year.
Among the variety of seasons covered are the pursuit of the Dr McKenna Cup, a cold St Patrick's Day in Croke Park and joy for Portumna and St Vincent's, a hard-fought league, the drama of the GAA championships and finally, Down Under and the successful seizure of the Cormac McAnallen Cup by a victorious Irish team led by Seán Boylan.
A Season of Sundays 2008is an official GAA publication. It is distributed by Easons and is available in all leading bookstores priced at €34.95.
SUNDAY
Leinster Club SF Championship final: Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Rhode (Offaly), Parnell Park, 2.0, P Fox (Westmeath).
Munster Club SF Championship final: Dromcollogher-Broadford (Limerick) v Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare), Gaelic Grounds, 2.0, A Mangan (Kerry).
Ulster Club SF Championship final (extra-time if necessary): Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) v Ballinderry (Derry), Brewster Park, 3.45, J White (Donegal).
