Senior footballers primed for start of league campaign

Dublin footballer Ciarán Kilkenny says Jim Gavin's men are recharged and ready to begin the defence of their NFL Division 1 title.

The Dubs open their campaign against Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday week (February 5, 2.0) in what is anticipated will attract a large crowd.

While the Paul Clarke-managed Dublin side were progressing through the group stage of the Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup and now face Louth in the decider this Sunday (Drogheda, 2.0), following their victory over Kildare last week, last year's All-Ireland winning panel were enjoying a well deserved team holiday.

"The big X in our calendar at the moment is Cavan in Breffni Park," says Ciarán.

The Dubs returned to full training last week will their minds fully focused on their next challenge, the 2017 League.

"When lads come back, they're buzzing. They're excited, really looking forward to training again and both mentally and physically you are just in such a great place after having a rest.

"When you do get a rest you do miss the training, you miss being around the lads, you miss the craic – even the training in the darkness and soggy pitches.

"Then when you come back everybody has smiles on their faces and you can see by their aura that they are ready to go.

"Even in the gym lads are buzzing. Lads are ready to go again and go on another journey and see where it brings us," adds the Castleknock clubman.

For tickets to the National Football/Hurling League games, see: dublingaa.tickets.ie