Dublin's Greg McEneaney says Allianz protest 'hasn't been discussed once' in camp

Greg McEneaney. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Dublin's Greg McEneaney has played down talk of protest action in the upcoming National League over sponsors Allianz, saying it 'hasn't been discussed once' by the players.

The Skerries man said that he personally doesn't know enough about the issue to have formed a solid opinion and is keen to just play football.

McEneaney was speaking at a pre-National League media event organised by Dublin GAA sponsors Staycity Aparthotels this afternoon. The Dublin footballers are scheduled to play Donegal in Round 1 on Saturday at Croke Park.

Earlier this week, it was reported that neither the Dublin footballers nor the hurlers would appear in front of Allianz signage when conducting interviews around games due to the company's links with Israel and the Gaza war.

Asked if he has any thoughts on the issue, defender McEneaney shrugged.

"To be honest, I was literally scrolling through Instagram, and the first I saw of it was by The Sunday Game - they posted it," he said, referencing reports of protest action by Dublin. "We never spoke about it, never had anything (agreed).

At the season launch in Staycity Aparthotels Mark Street were James Madden, Greg McEneaney, Niamh Crowley and Sinéad Wylde. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

"But obviously every individual, it's up to himself. It's his own opinion, he can do whatever he wants at the end of the day.

"For me, I don't really have an opinion on it. I don't know enough about it. I'll just be there to play football on Saturday, I suppose."

Asked to clarify if the issue of Allianz's sponsorship and potential protest action was discussed at all among the panel, McEneaney shook his head.

"No, it wasn't discussed at all," he said. "We actually aren't sure at all where the source is from (for the story). It hasn't been discussed once."

Former Dublin footballer Dr David Hickey, and 15 other ex-Dublin footballers, signed a letter that was sent to new county manager Ger Brennan, praising them for taking a stance.

Pat Gilroy, Dublin's All-Ireland winning manager from 2011, also signed the letter, along with Philly McMahon and Michael Darragh Macauley.

The letter hailed the current players' 'great moral and courageous protest' and stated that they would be remembered 'as a group of young men who dared challenge the status quo and use their prominence in Irish life to highlight the atrocities being committed in Gaza'.

The launch of the 2026 Allianz Leagues will take place on Thursday though no current players from competing counties will be involved. Former Meath footballer Graham Geraghty and Tipperary hurling great Padraic Maher are listed for media interviews. It will be Allianz's 34th year as title sponsors.