Dubs star Brogan back in training

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey has been given a timely boost with the return of star forward Alan Brogan to training.

The 2005 All-Star nominee went through his paces during a session with his club, St Oliver Plunkett's on Tuesday night, quashing fears that a lengthy ankle injury may sideline him for this month's O'Byrne Cup.

Brogan, who was forced to miss Ireland's International Rules trip in the autumn, has been in recovery mode since suffering a recurrence of a long-standing ankle problem in Dublin's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat by Tyrone in July.

Dublin open their 2006 account next Wednesday when they take on UCD in the first round of the O'Byrne Cup under the O'Toole Park floodlights in Ayrfield.

Meanwhile, former Monaghan player Pauric McDonald has been appointed as the new manager of the Dublin minor football team.

McDonald, a seven-time winner of the Monaghan county title with Castleblayney Faughs, moved to the capital in 2001 to join the Kilmacud Crokes club.

He cut his teeth as a coach in a Community Employment-based coaching scheme with the Monaghan County Board before becoming a member of the Dublin County Board's coaching staff.