Dias to make Dublin starting debut
Pat Gilroy
Kilmacud Crokes clubman Craig Dias will make his full senior debut for Dublin when they open their Allianz Football League campaign against Kerry tomorrow night (throw-in 7.15pm).
Dias will link up with James McCarthy and Ger Brennan in the Dubs' half-back line, as they look to repeat their All-Ireland final victory over the Kingdom at Croke Park.
There are eight survivors in the Dublin team from last September's famous 1-12 to 1-11 win, led by match winner and All-Star goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton.
Rory O'Carroll and Michael Fitzsimons remain in the full-back line where they are joined by Philly McMahon, while McCarthy, Brennan and midfielder Michael Dara Macauley have also been retained.
Macauley's centre-field partner will be Ross McConnell, with Bryan Cullen and Diarmuid Connolly starting in a rejigged attack which contains Kevin McManamon, the goal-scoring substitute in last year's All-Ireland decider.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that goalkeeper Shane Supple has left the Dublin panel after just a few weeks as a squad member.
Supple's sterling performances with St. Brigid's drew the attention of Dublin manager Pat Gilroy and he was invited to join the county set-up.
He started Dublin's Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup win over UCD recently, but has decided to drop out leaving Michael Savage as Cluxton's main rival for the number 1 jersey.
DUBLIN (AFL v Kerry): Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O'Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Craig Dias; Ross McConnell, Michael Dara Macauley; Paul Brogan, Kevin McManamon, Bryan Cullen; Diarmuid Connolly, Eoghan O'Gara, Tomas Quinn.
