Rory O'Carroll's absence from the opening game of Kilmacud Crokes' defence of their Dublin SHC crown is a source of frustration for manager Ollie Baker.

Sunday's FL Division 1 final versus Cork is preventing the 2013 All-Star football full-back from lining out against St Vincent's (who will be missing Diarmuid Connolly for the same reason) in Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

"The real frustration is with the players themselves," former Clare All-Ireland winner Baker outlined to The Irish Daily Star, "because they're GAA players, they want to play both hurling and football with their club, and an inter-county schedule is precluding them from doing that.

"It's frustrating but at the same time, it wouldn't be fair to hold 30 players from either Vincent's or Kilmacud because one player is involved in (another game).

"It's just something you'd rather not have to deal with but you can't stall the championship to start off in August or September.

"St Vincent's are in the same boat, they'd love to have Diarmuid Connolly available, and you can imagine there's a good few other clubs in the same boat.

"It's vice-versa with both hurling and football and I wouldn't think this issue is unique to Dublin."

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