Griffin departure a blow for Dublin

Dublin football manager Paul Caffrey will have to plan without the services of defender Paul Griffin for the early part of next season, with the Kilmacud Crokes player deciding to embark on an extended holiday at the end of this year.

Griffin's decision to go on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia means that Caffrey and his selectors will have to plan without him for Dublin's National Football League Division 2 programme and also possibly the Metropolitans' defence of their Leinster title.

"I'll be going away in mid December and though I haven't finalised the date of my return, it will probably be around the end of June," Griffin admitted.

Although this is a major decision by the Crokes defender, he had made the Dublin management fully aware of his desire to travel a good while ago.

"The team management have been aware of my plans for some time, and they've given me their full blessing. Obviously, I'd like to get involved with Dublin when I come back home, but after not having played football for six months, it won't be easy to break back into the panel."

The former Dublin Under-21 captain broke into the senior setup in 2003 and along with winning three Leinster senior titles with the Dubs, he was also a Leinster club championship winner with Crokes two years ago.

Griffin is in championship action tonight with his club when they take on a Tomas Quinn-powered St. Vincent's side in the semi-finals of the Dublin senior football championship at Parnell Park.