Senior footballers start new season against Longford

Dublin senior footballers face Longford in this Saturday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final in Pearse Park, Longford (2.0), their first game under new manager Dessie Farrell.

Owing to the GAA's rule on dates with regard to returning to collective intercounty training and matches Dublin received a bye to the semi-final, a stage Longford, Offaly and Westmeath have now reached after the group phase of games.

Longford defeated Kildare 2-14 to 0-14 (Saturday, December 7; St Conleth's Park, Newbridge) and Carlow 1-13 to 0-10 (Sunday, December 15; Glennon Bros Pearse Park) before Christmas to book their semi-final slot before losing to Wicklow, 2-9 to 0-14, last weekend (Saturday, January 4; Joule Park, Aughrim).

Last year (Saturday, January 12) Dublin defeated Meath in the semi-final on penalties (3-1) with Aaron Byrne, Oisín Lynch and Conor McHugh converting from the spot after the game had ended level (1-12 each) in Parnell Park.

Six days later the Dubs lost to Westmeath, 1-12 to 0-10, in the final again at the Donnycarney venue.

In recent years Dublin have fielded experimental line-ups in the O'Byrne Cup with many players who featured in the competition also making it into in the National League panel.

In 2019 the following were part of the O'Byrne Cup panel as well as for the NFL, some players also made SFC panel - Colm Basquel, Ryan Basquel, Seán Bugler, Andy Bunyan, Aaron Byrne, Evan Comerford, Liam Flatman, Darren Gavin, Robbie McDaid, Andy McGowan, Conor McHugh, Conor Mullally, Cian O'Connor and CJ Smith while Michael Shiel was a member of both the O'Byrne Cup and SFC panels.

The Sigerson Cup commences this weekend with a strong Dublin club representation included in various panels - UCD: Liam Flatman (Kilmacud Crokes), Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala), Niall O'Leary (Kilmacud Crokes), Evan Caulfield (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Seán Egan (St Brigid's), Con O'Callaghan (Cuala), Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's) and Cillian O'Shea (Kilmacud Crokes); Maynooth University: Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields) and Darragh Warnock (Castleknock); DCU Dochas Eireann: Declan Monaghan (Clontarf), Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams), Paul Tolan (Nh Barróg), Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh), Stephen Smith (Skerries Harps), Tom Fox (Kilmacud Crokes), Shane Carthy (Nh Mearnóg), Seán McMahon (Raheny), Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams), Neil Matthews (Erin's Isle), Karl Lynch Bissett (Nh Mearnóg) and Conor Hickey (St Margaret's); TU Dublin (DIT): Brian Howard (Raheny), Oisín Lynch (Fingallians), Callum Pearson (Kilmacud Crokes), Andy McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes), Tom Keane (Nh Olaf), Seán Walsh (St Pat's, Donabate); Garda College: Kieran Doherty (St Jude's).

Dublin's U20 footballers are also in action this Saturday when they face Kildare in Hawkfield (2.0) in their second game of the John Kerins U20 Football Development League. The Dubs lost narrowly to Meath last weekend in Dunganny, 2-13 to 2-11.

Thursday, January 9
Walsh Cup SH Round Robin
Parnell Park (7.45) Dublin v Laois Ref: Barry Redmond (Wexford)

Friday, January 10
Andrew Corden Cup – GAA U20 Football Development League
Netwatch Training Centre Fenagh (7.45) Carlow v Waterford Ref: Stephen Fagan (Wicklow)

Saturday, January 11
O'Byrne Cup SF Semi Finals
Bord na Mona O Connor Park (2.00) Offaly v Westmeath Ref: David Fedigan (Louth)
Glennon Bros Pearse Park (2.00) Longford v Dublin Ref: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
(If sides finish level in O'Byrne Cup – a penalty competition for goals only will decide winner – no extra-time will be played in these games)

John Kerins Cup – GAA U20 Football Development League
LOETB Laois Centre of Excellence (2.00) Laois v Meath Ref: Dan Stynes (Dublin)
Manguard Plus Hawkfield Centre of Excellence (2.00) Kildare v Dublin Ref:David Hickey (Carlow)

Sunday, January 12
Walsh Cup SH Semi Finals
John Lockes Callan (2.00) Kilkenny v Wexford Ref:Sean Stack (Dublin)
Dublin/Laois/Westmeath (2.00) Dublin/Laois/Westmeath v Galway Ref: Patrick Murphy (Carlow
(If sides finish level in Walsh Cup - a penalty competition for goals only – will decide winner)

Kehoe Cup SH Final
Páirc Tailteann Navan (2.00) Antrim v Offaly Ref: James McGrath (Westmeath)
(If sides finish level in Kehoe Cup – a penalty competition for goals only – will decide winner)

Andrew Corden Cup - GAA U20 Football Development League
Moyle Rovers GAA (12.00) Tipperary v Wexford Ref: Niall Quinn (Clare)