Dub Mannion gone for year

The Dublin senior footballers have been dealt a blow ahead of their 2015 preparations with the news Paul Mannion is set to be unavailable for the coming year.

The Kilmacud Crokes player left Ireland on Wednesday morning for a year to study in Beijing as part of his course in UCD.

He has won All-Ireland senior, U21 and minor titles, along with provincial honours.