Cluxton won’t be back for league final clash – Farrell

Dubs boss says goalkeeper, McCarthy and Fitzsimons on track for championship

Dessie Farrell has ruled out the possibility of Dublin’s nine-time All-Ireland winners playing in Sunday’s NFL Division 1 final, but reiterated the intention that all three will be back in the frame for their All-Ireland SFC campaign.

James McCarthy is the only one of the three to appear during the league, which Dublin rounded off with a thumping 21-point win over Tyrone to qualify for the final against Derry.

McCarthy played just half an hour of Dublin’s opening day loss to Monaghan in Croke Park. “He’s had a couple of knocks and injuries,” Farrell explained, “but we’d hope to see him come championship.”

As yet, neither Stephen Cluxton nor Mick Fitzsimons have played a minute for Dublin this season, though Cluxton did tog out for his club Parnells yesterday in a league game and then warmed up with the Dublin team at Croke Park.

“The lads are training away,” Farrell explained. “So we hope to have them available to us come championship.”

Cluxton, 42, didn’t feature last year until the Leinster semi-final while Fitzsimons, who turns 36 in a fortnight, missed their first three games of the championship due to sitting exams.

“I think this time of year, you want to be careful as well because even though some players might declare themselves available you can never be sure,” Farrell explained. “This time of year you’re better off erring on the side of caution. Those lads just mentioned won’t be available to us but I think we’ll have others.”

While Dublin routed Tyrone to secure their final place – edging out Kerry on the head-to-head rules after both finished on 10 points – Derry topped the group with 12 points.

Derry’s win condemned Roscommon to the drop as they finished on three points, two off Galway who lost to Kerry. Monaghan were already relegated last week. Donegal and Armagh had nailed down promotion with a round to go and contest next Sunday’s Division 2 final.

At the bottom of Division 2 Fermanagh joined an already relegated Kildare in the drop to Division 3, despite beating Cavan in their last game. But Louth’s win over Kildare ensured their safety, with likely Sam Maguire Cup involvement courtesy of sixth place in the division.

In Division 3, Down and Westmeath have qualified for next Saturday’s final but Westmeath had the tougher passage, losing to Sligo by 1-14 to 0-11 to stay on 11 points, one ahead of Clare who lost to Down. Down topped the group with 13 points.

Limerick were already relegated and were joined by Wicklow who lost to Antrim. Wicklow finished their campaign on two points, three adrift of Offaly who beat Limerick.

Elsewhere, Laois and Leitrim secured promotion to Division 3. Laois routed Waterford to finish on 12 points while Leitrim’s win over Tipperary put them level on 10 points with Wexford who beat Longford.

However, Leitrim had head-to-head advantage over Wexford to send them up for the second time in five years.