Crokes ace Vaughan vows to return to Dublin panel

MARK VAUGHAN has not given up hope of resuming his inter-county career with Dublin despite being dropped from the panel by manager Pat Gilroy during this year’s championship.

The Kilmacud Crokes forward was a key player in his club’s successful county, provincial and All-Ireland campaigns but played almost no part in Dublin’s season prior to being dropped, reportedly for disciplinary reasons.

“The Dublin door is always open for anyone,” said Vaughan yesterday at the launch of the oneills.com Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens. “I’m hoping to be in the squad next year. I’m having a better year this year than last year. I’m scoring a lot more from play and I have been trying to improve my work rate too. I assume it is going to be an open trial like last year. I think everyone has an equal chance of being in there again.” Vaughan has been troubled by a persistent back injury in recent seasons and it was that complaint which so limited his contribution to Dublin during the spring and summer competitions. That, coupled with his club commitments, saw him make just one appearance for Gilroy in the league – against Westmeath in the final round – and he wasn’t listed as a substitute in any of their championship fixtures prior to being released ahead of the All-Ireland quarter-final against Kerry.