Chinese takeaway Mannion for a year
September 12, 2014
Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke saves at the feet of Paul Mannion of Dublin
©INPHO/Donall Farmer
Dublin and Kilmacud Crokes have suffered a huge blow with the news that Paul Mannion will spend the next 12 months in China.
The brilliant young attacker departed for Beijing on Wednesday to study for year as part of his UCD course. An All-Ireland minor winner in 2012, Mannion burst onto the senior scene last year to play a starring role in Dublin's Sam Maguire Cup triumph. Earlier this year, he helped the Dubs to All-Ireland U21 honours.
Kilmacud Crokes manager and former Down All-Ireland winning full back Conor Deegan acknowledged that Mannion will be a big loss to club and county.
"Paul is a phenomenal footballer and a fantastic lad," he said in the Irish Daily Star.
"To lose a player of that quality, it's just devastating. He is a huge loss to Dublin obviously also. Paul wasn't too far away this year. It's a loss all round."
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