BALLYMUN KICKHAMS BOSS Paul Curran is hoping that his Sigerson Cup stars will be released to focus on their upcoming All-Ireland club final.
Saturday’s semi-final victory over Dr Crokes sees Ballymun’s attention turn to a St Patrick’s Day date with Roscommon’s St Brigid’s.
But before that the trio of James McCarthy, Dean Rock and Davey Byrne are involved with the DCU team in the Sigerson Cup semi-final next Friday in Athlone.
And Ballymun defender Sean George will be in action for DCU’s opponents in that game, Dublin IT.
The issue of dilemmas facing players between third-level outfits and clubs has surfaced in recent years, most noticeably with Crossmaglen Rangers as the quartet of Jamie Clarke, David McKenna, Aaron Cunningham and James Morgan were unavailable for UUJ’s run to the semi-finals of the Sigerson Cup last season.
Curran revealed that both McCarthy and Rock are on scholarships with DCU but did admit that he can understand both sides to the situation.
“No decision yet. I’d be hoping that they’d be released, but I don’t know. We’ll have to talk to Niall Moyna and the management team.
“Look I understand both sides of it. I don’t think the games will do them any harm. I don’t like wrapping them up in cotton wool or anything like that, but we would like to have them.
“But, it’s a month to the All-Ireland. We’d just be hoping that they’d play and maybe avoid injury. That’s all we want, because the games won’t do them any harm. They’re young men.”
