DUBLIN LOOK SET to have to plan without attacker Paul Mannion for at least part of their 2015 campaign as he has travelled to study in Beijing in China for a year.
Mannion is an International Commerce student in UCD, where he played Sigerson Cup football last spring, and it has been reported this morning that he has departed for a year as part of his studies.
The development means the Kilmacud Crokes attacker – who was part of the Dublin squad that lost last month’s All-Ireland semi-final against Donegal – will be unavailable for manager Jim Gavin for the stages of the 2015 campaign.
Mannion burst on to the scene with Dublin in the underage ranks when they lost the 2011 All-Ireland minor final against Tipperary before winning an All-Ireland U21 medal against Roscommon in 2012.
He graduated to the senior setup last year and won an All-Ireland senior medal before hitting 0-8 last May as he collected his second All-Ireland U21 honour with a final success against Roscommon.
