Gilroy glad Fennell’s club saga is resolved

DUBLIN manager Pat Gilroy is relieved Eamon Fennell’s protracted transfer case has been resolved — but has all but ruled him out of getting any league action.

The midfielder is eligible to move from O’Toole’s to Gilroy’s own St Vincents and, as a result, can line out for the county. But a troublesome hip injury is likely to rule Fennell out of action until the championship

“It’s a distraction that’s over and out of the way,” Gilroy insisted. “It didn’t cross over into anything to do with us but, from his point of view, it’s good to have it behind him. It’s good it’s done and dusted.”

As for Fennell’s injury problems, Gilroy is slightly more worried.

“He can’t do weight-bearing training, he has to train in a swimming pool and he can’t put his full weight down on it. He’s had an operation so it’s just not ready to actually put full weight on it. I’d say he’ll play club games probably in April but it will take him a while to build back up to fitness.”

Fennell’s midfield partner, Michael Darragh MacAuley, is delighted to hear that the situation is now resolved.

“It’s good that it’s sorted and we can look forward to marking him in the club championship at some stage. It lingered over him too long, but he can now concentrate on his football.”

McAuley lines out alongside Denis Bastick in Dublin’s midfield against Cork and manager Gilroy is not expecting any let-up from the 2010 double champions after their opening day win away to Kerry.

“They’re the All-Ireland champions. Didn’t they only lose two games last year in the whole year? They set out their stall last year in the League and they’ve set it out again this year.

“One of Cork’s big strengths last year was their panel and fact that it is in Croke Park is an opportunity for a lot of those fellas to play. I’d expect it to be a huge challenge for us.”

Meanwhile, Dublin and Lucan Sarsfields wing-back Paul Casey will welcome Cork midfielder Alan O’Connor back to his old club this evening. O’Connor played for the west Dublin outfit up until his mid-teens and will bring the Sam Maguire Cup to his old haunting ground along with some of his All-Ireland winning team-mates.

“I never played with him but he did play with some of the lads in Lucan,” Casey smiled. “I know he’s going out to the club in Lucan tonight after the game with Sam Maguire. We’d love to have him back playing with Lucan, he’s a fine player. It’s a nice link with the game in Croke Park.”

- AT TONIGHT'S NFL clash between Cork and Dublin Leitrim footballer Philly McGuinness, who died in a football game last year, will be remembered as part of a drive to raise organ donation awareness that is being spearheaded by former Dublin footballer Dr David Hickey.