FORMER Tipperary senior hurler, Ryan O’Dwyer, will don the navy and blue of Dublin for the first time in this Saturday’s Evening Herald/Dublin Bus Dubs Stars clash at St Brigid’s GAA club, Russell Park (1.30).
Twenty-four year-old O’Dwyer, who recently transferred his club allegiance from Cashel King Cormac’s to Kilmacud Crokes, has been selected at centre-forward on a powerful looking Dublin team as Anthony Daly begins his 2011 campaign as the Dubs’ boss.
O’Dwyer won a Munster U21 medal with the Premier County in 2006 before making his senior league and championship debut with Tipp in 2007.
Ten players who played in last summer’s disappointing All-Ireland SHC qualifier phase 3 exit at the hands of Antrim will face the Dubs Stars – Tomás Brady, Oisín Gough, Stephen Hiney, Joey Boland, Niall Corcoran, Maurice O’Brien, Peter Kelly, Liam Rushe, David O’Callaghan, and 2009 All Star Alan McCrabbe.
Dublin U21 captain of this year, Finn McGarry, who led his side to provincial honours before losing to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final will man the goals for the Dubs as the capital’s regular No 1, Gary Maguire, is in goals for the Dubs Stars.
Former Dublin footballer, Shane Ryan, is included amongst a strong bench for Dublin that also includes Simon Lambert and up and coming players such as Paul Schutte, Ronan Walsh, Martin Quilty, John Sheanon, Niall McMorrow, Conor Clinton, Barry O’Rorke and Cian McBride who impressed sufficiently in the recent trail games to earn a call-up to the senior squad.
– Niall Scully- Evening Herald