Five league debutants for Dublin
Dublin manager Paul Caffrey has named five league debutants in his side for Sunday’s Allianz NFL Division 1A opener against Tyrone in Omagh (throw-in 2.30pm).
Youngsters Paul Copeland, Niall O’Shea, Denis Bastick, Derek Murray and Kevin Bonner will all be given their chance to impress against the All-Ireland champions.
Having played throughout the O’Byrne Cup, Copeland retains the number 1 jersey with Stephen Cluxton away, O’Shea comes in at right corner back, while Bastick will man midfield alongside Ciaran Whelan.
The talismanic Whelan is one of only seven players selected to have started Dublin’s last meeting with Tyrone - August’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final replay defeat by the Red Hands.
Up front, Round Towers, Clondalkin forward Murray and St Brigid’s hitman Bonner, a son of former Donegal forward Seamus Bonner, come in at wing-forward and full-forward respectively.
Caffrey’s hand has been forced with injuries to captain Paddy Christie (groin) and Conal Keaney (ankle), amongst others, and the unavailability of his Kilmacud Crokes players - Paul Griffin, Darren Magee, Mark Vaughan, Ray Cosgrove and Liam Óg Ó hEineachain.
Crokes are busy planning for their AIB All-Ireland Club semi-final against Galway outfit Salthill Knocknacarra on February 19.
DUBLIN (NFL v Tyrone) : P Copeland; N O’Shea, B Cahill, D Henry; P Casey, P Andrews, C Goggins; C Whelan, D Bastick; D Murray, B Cullen, T Quinn; D O’Callaghan, K Bonner, A Brogan.
Subs: J Leonard, S Ryan, D Lally, B Brogan, J Sherlock, G O’Meara, D Lally, M Fitzpatrick, G Norton.
