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Final Countdown

Six changes for Dublin ahead of league final

Tomás Quinn given the nod to replace the suspended Alan Brogan at corner-forward.

DUBLIN SENIOR FOOTBALL manager Pat Gilroy has made six changes to his side ahead of Sunday’s Allianz National Football League Division 1 decider against old rivals Cork in Croke Park.

After fielding a much more experimental side in the drawn game against Galway two weeks ago, the Dubs boss has reverted to a side which includes established faces such as Stephen Cluxton in goal and the midfield pairing of Denis Bastick and Michael Dara Macauley.

Cuala man Michael Fitzsimons comes in at corner back in place of former U21 team-mate Nicky Devereux while Kevin McManamon returns to his places in the inside forward line and Mossy Quinn replaces the suspended Alan Brogan at corner-forward.

Skerries Harps man Bryan Cullen has been handed the captain’s armband for Sunday’s game and, speaking to TheScore.ie yesterday, he insisted that the weekend’s result would not define either side’s season.

“Going through the league undefeated has definitely raised expectations of us. If we’re fortunate enough to win this weekend we’ll probably be installed as favourites for the Championship,” he said.

But we’re not putting any undue pressure on ourselves. We’re just treating it as another league game and a great opportunity to prepare for the Championship.

Having picked up a raft of fresh injury concerns over the weekend, Cork boss Conor Counihan has delayed naming his side until he can fully assess his stars’ fitness.

Aidan Walsh and Paul Kerrigan both appear to have been ruled out by hamstring difficulties while Ciarán Sheehan is still hoping to recover from an ankle injury.

Cork will also be without dual star Eoin Cadogan who is suspended following his sending off in the Rebels’ final league game against Armagh  .

Dublin (vs. Cork): Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Paul Brogan, Philly McMahon, Barry Cahill, Ger Brennan, Kevin Nolan; Denis Bastick, Michael Darragh Macauley; Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, Bryan Cullen (c), Tomás Quinn, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan.

Read more of Bryan Cullen’s thoughts on Sunday’s league decider here >