Caffrey upbeat on Whelan fitness

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey said today that he expects Ciaran Whelan to be available for Sunday week's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Meath.

The former Dublin captain injured his groin during Saturday's 2-8 to 0-11 challenge match win over Derry at the Na Fianna club.

But Caffrey admitted today: "Ciaran will be fine. I took him off as a precaution on Saturday."

However, the prognosis for key forward Jason Sherlock is not so good.

"Jason had an operation yesterday on his hand and it looks like he will be out for four weeks at least," the Dublin boss told breakingnews.ie.

"We hope to get a few forwards back this week. Jason has been a huge loss and he has been Dublin's talisman for the last couple of campaigns and even during the National League this year we could see what his experience brought to the team."

Caffrey feels that the loss of Sherlock is a major blow.

"It was a plan that we would rest both Jason and Ciaran for the O'Byrne Cup and the early rounds of the National League and that was very much geared to having them fresh for now. Unfortunately for Jason he picked up this injury so that's tough luck on him and it is bad luck for Dublin also."

However there is some positive news for 'Pillar' with both Bernard Brogan and Kevin Bonner expected to make a return to the team.

"Bernard and Kevin are on the way back and it's a long way from Sunday week, so hopefully they will be both available for selection by then," said Caffrey.

Dublin's opponents on Sunday week are old rivals Meath and Caffrey kept a close eye on the Royals last Sunday in their win against Kildare.

"Meath were very impressive and have gone back to basics, but it's a challenge we want and we saw what happened the favourites last Sunday in the Galway-Mayo game. In derby games the whole idea of who are favourites means nothing. It meant nothing in the past and it means nothing in the future, it's up to us to be right on the day and that's what we tend to be."

Caffrey expected the Royals to edge last Sunday's encounter, adding: "I had a slight fancy for Meath alright."

With another Dublin-Meath tie on the horizon, the Na Fianna clubman expects a capacity crowd at GAA headquarters for the game.

"The GAA is built on the dream of everybody winning All-Irelands but also it is hugely built on local rivalries whether it is Galway v Mayo or Meath and Dublin.

"I think whether you are a player, manager or supporter, these are the games you thrive on and look forward too. The same with Cork and Kerry in Munster - there are traditions everywhere and I think they take on their own life with what they bring to supporters and Croke Park will be the place to be on Sunday week."

Caffrey was speaking today as he and Clare hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald called for members of the public to join them on the Irish leg of the Tony Griffin Foundation's 'Ride For The Cure' which takes place from Saturday, June 30 to Sunday, July 1 from various locations around the country with the finish planned in Ennis in Co Clare.

"I would be a huge admirer of what Tony Griffin is doing," said Caffrey. "When you see guys like him and Alan Kerins, what they have done to use their profile for the betterment of others. I think it shows that we are in a healthy state within the GAA to have people like that representing us."

All proceeds from the cycle will benefit the Irish Cancer Society, Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

2006 All-Star hurler Tony Griffin swapped his hurley for a bike when he decided to embark on a 7,000km charity cycle in memory of his father Jerome, who died of cancer in 2005.

The 26-year-old is almost two weeks into a six-week cycle across Canada and Ireland and hopes to raise €1m for the three cancer-related charities.

The GAA man has already received donations and pledges of $500,000 (€734,000) towards his target and has been endorsed by seven-times Tour De France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

Caffrey feels that promoting the cycle was something he could not refuse.

“I couldn't turn down the offer of helping to promote what Tony Griffin is trying to do which is raise a million euro for cancer charities,” he said. “There is no greater cause and I am fully supportive of him.”

The Irish leg of the cycle will see up to 250 Irish people join national sporting celebrities as they cycle from six centres in Castlebar, Sligo, Monaghan, Limerick, Dublin and Kilkenny into Athlone on Saturday, June 30.

The following day, all cyclists will merge and ride together with Griffin for the final stage of his epic 7,000km journey to his hometown of Ennis.