Double injury blow for Dubs
Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin has been hit with a double injury blow just two months after taking charge of the Metropolitans.
Forwards Alan Brogan and Eoghan O'Gara are both set to miss the bulk of the Allianz National Football League campaign in the spring.
Brogan and O'Gara are due to have surgery in the next few weeks. Brogan, the 2011 Player of the Year, will undergo treatment for a groin injury.
Templeogue Synge Street clubman O'Gara will have hip surgery which sideline him until April at the earliest.
Speaking at today's launch of Dublin GAA's new jersey, he says he is looking forward to getting his injury sorted.
"The injury has been there for a couple of seasons and now I finally have the chance to sort it out," explained O'Gara.
"I've had temporary treatment on it, but it is a long-standing injury and now I have a chance to get it sorted for once and for all.
"I'm targeting to be back in action somewhere towards the end of the league."
Meanwhile, Gavin says the door is open for players to return to the squad. Parnells midfielder Eamon Fennell has not yet earned a call-up to the Dubs panel for next year.
However, Gavin says that there is a possibility for players to come back on board, stating: "There's very much an open door and guys can move in and out of the squad.
"There is no 'locked down' squad at the moment. For players who might not be involved at this time that is the case.
"What we are looking for is guys that are performing and guys who are maybe going through a dip in form can maybe go back to their clubs and once we see them performing well with their clubs, they will get the opportunity to step back in."
Tomás Quinn and Paul Casey are the only players from the 2012 squad who have announced their retirements, but Gavin says that he is not shutting the door on them returning to inter-county football.
"Paul Casey and Tomas Quinn have said they are retired. But they both know that if they are playing well with their clubs that I will be looking for them.
"As I said before we are looking for players that are performing on a consistent basis, for either the county or their clubs and if it is with their clubs we will certainly go chasing them."
Talented dual player Cormac Costello, who won an All-Ireland minor title with Dublin this year, is one of those who has earned a call-up to the squad.
"Cormac will be in with us on the 8th. He will be committing solely to the footballers," added Gavin.
Na Fianna's Tomás Brady has opted to switch codes for the coming year, committing to the Dublin senior footballers for the 2013 campaign.
Gavin says that there has been no animosity over the switch, saying: "I am just delighted that players are playing Gaelic Games, be it hurling or football - it all benefits Dublin GAA in the end. The relationship is very good."
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