Dublin 2-11 Dub Stars 2-11 (Dublin won 3-2 on penalties): PAT GILROY will certainly bring a new approach as Dublin football manager. A physically imposing figure, and that he runs a successful business is already established, it quickly became apparent after yesterday's Dubs Stars game that he will not be talking just for the sake of it.
Polite yet to the point best describes his demeanour out in Páirc Barróg in what can only be described as a poor excuse for shooting practice.
The Dublin selection had 10 wides racked up by the interval and finding a decent spread of scoring forwards remains an issue. With Tomás Quinn and Jason Sherlock in the Dubs Stars side (stand-out players at club level in 2008), Mark Vaughan absent along with Bernard Brogan and Conal Keaney, the emphasis yet again fell upon Alan Brogan.
Granted, Kevin Bonner looked encouragingly sharp for this time of year, bagging 2-2 from full forward.
As far as an injection of fresh talent goes Kilmacud Crokes pair Cian O'Sullivan and Mark Davoren are certainly worth another look at intercounty level once their club duties subside.
The Leinster champions face Corofin next month in the All-Ireland club semi-final.
St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh forward Gareth Smith can kick a point from anywhere, but this is old news to followers of the Dublin club scene. Ger Brennan will push hard for a permanent role at centre back this season.
A 43-man extended panel depart for training camp in La Manga on Saturday, with Gilroy informing us that 32 are fit to train, but primarily the trip is about introducing the new management to a group of players that have lived under Paul Caffrey's ways for the past four years.
"We haven't done anything. We let the lads off for the two months so we'll get into it now on Saturday.
"The Kilmacud guys aren't going obviously. It's very hard when you haven't had a chance to train with them so we're hoping to get plenty of ball time when we're over there."
La Manga is a popular destination for intercounty panels in the off season since Joe Kernan's Armagh squad made the trip to Spain before the 2002 championship. They captured their first All-Ireland that September.
With precious little interest being placed on the O'Byrne Cup - it is a development squad, managed by Neil Curley, the first major challenge for Gilroy's Dublin comes at a packed Croke Park, under lights against All-Ireland champions Tyrone on Saturday January 31st.
"Eyes are going to be on Dublin when they play anyway. Sure, it is good to play in Croke Park anyway for us. It is good to play Tyrone. We want to be playing against the best team so that's how you measure yourself."
That was it from Gilroy. No need to elaborate, certainly at this time of year. That's just not his way.
The captaincy issue hasn't been decided upon yet but Shane Ryan collected the trophy yesterday after Naomh Barróg club man Joey O'Rourke, in a cameo role for Dublin, converted the winning penalty in the shootout.
Quinn missed his penalty but it was exhibition stuff and it was his late scoring blitz that tied matters up anyway.
DUBLIN: T McGrath; S Breheny, P Flynn, C O'Sullivan; P Casey, G Brennan, B Cahill (0-1); S Ryan (0-1), C Daly; B McManamon, D Henry (0-5, one free), A Hubbard; D Ryan (0-1), K Bonner (2-2), A Brogan (0-1). Subs: J O'Rourke for D Ryan (40 mins), B McManamon for A Hubbard (41 mins), S Ryan for P Casey (42 mins), A Hubbard for A Brogan (52 mins).
DUBS STARS: D Nestor; R O'Connor, K Nolan, D Daly; B Sexton, D Murray, E Dolan; S Walsh, E Reilly; P Burke, (0-1), T Furman, G Smith (0-2); M Davoren (1-0), J Sherlock (0-2), T Quinn (1-3). Subs: S O'Shaughnessy for R O'Connor, B Kelly (0-2) for T Furman (both half-time), M Savage for D Nestor (42 mins), P Andrews (0-1) for P Burke (50 mins), H Gill for D Daly (55 mins).
Referee: M Bissett (Whitehall Colmcille).
