GAELIC GAMES NEWS:JASON SHERLOCK will not play and none of the Kilmacud Crokes contingent will be on view in this Sunday's annual Dubs Stars football match against Pat Gilroy's Dublin selection at Fingallians GAA club in Swords.
The hurling equivalent provides the curtain raiser (throw-in 2pm) with Shane Ryan confirming the return to his first love as he captains Anthony Daly’s Dublin from centre forward.
Sherlock’s exclusion from a full Dublin panel and the 22-man Dubs Stars is interesting, especially considering the Crokes absentees who are currently holidaying in New York as a reward for capturing the All-Ireland club title last March.
Sherlock, unlike fellow veteran Ciarán Whelan, did not announce his retirement from inter-county football after last season’s disappointing collapse against Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Rumours about Conal Keaney following Ryan out of the football panel and back to the small ball appear incorrect as he is named in the Blue Stars football half-forward line (although he may not play) in recognition of some excellent performances during the Dublin club championship for eventual champions Ballyboden St Enda’s.
The match marks the opening of the Dublin GAA season and the first official chance for managers Gilroy and Daly to run the rule over potential candidates for their respective squads.
The fixture takes on slightly greater significance for Gilroy after day two of the recent regional football competition was cancelled due to the weather.
Meanwhile, the two-month ban on intercounty teams gathering for collective training ends on Friday and there are some preliminary McGrath Cup football matches taking place down in Munster on Sunday.
DUBLIN(SFC v Dubs Stars): M Savage; P Conlon, M Fitzsimons, C McCormack; P Casey, G Brennan, J McCarthy; E Fennell, P Flynn; B Courtney, S McGrath, D Daly; D Rock, E O'Gara, T Quinn.
DUBLIN(SHC v Dubs Stars): A Nolan; R Trainor, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, R Fallon, N Corcoran; J Boland, S Lambert; D Curtin, S Ryan, J Kelly; D O'Callaghan, D Treacy, P Carton.
DUBS STARS(hurling): G Maguire (Ballyboden St Enda's); J Duffy (Ballyboden St Enda's), S Perkins (Ballyboden St Enda's), P Brennan (O'Toole's); M Travers (Ballyboden St Enda's), D O'Reilly (Craobh Chiaráin), D Spain (Ballyboden St Enda's); S Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda's), A McCrabbe (Craobh Chiaráin); D Sweeney (Ballyboden St Enda's), L Rushe (St Patrick's, Palmerstown), A Morris (O'Toole's); K O'Loughlin (Kilmacud Crokes), P Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda's), K Warren (Craobh Chiaráin).
Sunday
McGrath Cup preliminary round(throw-in times TBC):
Tipperary v University of Limerick, Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town; Kerry v IT Tralee, Austin Stack Park, Tralee; Limerick v WIT, Kilmallock.
Annual Dubs Stars fixtures: Hurling– Dubs Stars v Dublin, Lawless Memorial Park, Fingallians, Swords, 2.0.
Football– Dubs Stars v Dublin, Lawless Memorial Park, Fingallians, Swords, 4.0
