McCaffrey misses out for Dublin

A groin injury has ruled midfielder John McCaffrey out of Dublin manager Tommy Naughton's plans for Sunday's NHL Division 1B clash with Limerick (Gaelic Grounds, throw-in 1.45pm).

McCaffrey, who captained the Dublin minors to a Leinster title in 2005, suffered a recurrence of the injury during the Dubs' surprise 2-7 to 1-8 league victory over Galway last weekend.

Naughton's side have a tough schedule to contend with in the coming week with three away games in the space of eight days.

After the trip to Limerick, the Dubs must face Antrim in Belfast next Wednesday in a re-fixed clash and then on Sunday week they will on the road again to meet Tipperary.

Naughton will be hoping McCaffrey, who has shone alongside Joey Boland in midfield this season, can prove his fitness for the latter two games.

Ger O'Meara will take McCaffrey's place at centre-field this weekend.

Limerick beat Dublin 2-16 to 1-13 in last summer's All-Ireland SHC qualifiers, while the Shannonsiders also had six points to spare - 3-14 to 3-8 - when the sides last met in the National League in April 2005.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Dublin half-forward Eoin Moran will be sidelined for six and eight weeks due to a medial ligament injury.

Still eligible for the Under-21 grade, Moran had to be stretchered off in the second half of the win over Galway.

DUBLIN (NHL v Limerick) - G Maguire; P Brennan, S Hiney, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, D O'Reilly; J Boland, G O'Meara; L Ryan, D Qualter, D Curtin; J Kelly, P O'Driscoll, K Flynn.