Griffin: Crokes' success a boost for Dublin

December 09, 2008
Paul Griffin has dismissed suggestions that Kilmacud Crokes' capture of the Leinster club football title is a setback to new Dublin manager Pat Gilroy. Their participation in next February's All-Ireland semi-final against Corofin or Tir Chonaill Gaels means the likes of Griffin, Mark Vaughan and Darren Magee will be unavailable to Gilroy for the start of next year's National League, and in the event of Crokes progressing to the All-Ireland final on St. Patrick's Day, they would only be available for the last two rounds. But highly-rated defender Griffin believes a second straight All-Ireland club title for the county - Gilroy's own St. Vincent's claimed the honours last season - would be the perfect launching pad for the new manager. "All I'm focussing on is the club and being as successful as we can be this year," he said. "Dublin will come on the back of that and, if we can be successful, it will be a big lift if Dublin clubs can win back-to-back All-Irelands." Gilroy isn't the only inter-county manager affected by last Sunday's result. Brian Kavanagh (Longford), Adrian Morrissey (Wexford) and Liam McBarron (Fermanagh) will all be taking leave of county duties until late February at the earliest.

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