No starting place for Connolly

Controversial star has to settle for place on bench

DIARMUID CONNOLLY may yet play a pivotal role in this year’s Championship, but he continues to pay a heavy the price for the 12week ban incurred for his indiscretion during the Leinster Championship defeat of Carlow. The Dublin star, regarded by many as the player of his generation, has once again been overlooked for a starting place in today’s game.

Despite the fevered speculation in recent days, Dublin boss Jim Gavin has kept faith with the team that easily dispatched Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final three weeks ago spelling bad news for his gifted attacker.

It remains to be seen whether or not St Vincent’s clubman Connolly – suspended following an altercation with a linesman – will make an appearance at some stage but, having made only a brief cameo towards the end of the semi-final, he quickly disappeared down the tunnel at full time fuelling speculation that he was more than a little unhappy.

There was also bad news for fourtime All-Star Paul Flynn, who kicked three points against Tyrone but finds himself surplus to requirements and having to settle for a place on the bench with Niall Scully making up the half-forward line alongside Ciaran Kilkenny and Con O’Callaghan.

Connolly is just one of a host of stellar names being held in reserve by Gavin, with Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh Macauley also among the reserves for the defending champions.

Mayo have also named an unchanged team for the final. DUBLIN XV:

Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon, Cian O’Sullivan, Michael Fitzsimons; Johnny Cooper, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Ciaran Kilkenny, Con O’Callaghan, Niall Scully; Paul Mannion, Paddy Andrews, Dean Rock Mayo XV: David Clarke; Brendan Harrison, Donal Vaughan, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Chris Barrett, Colm Boyle; Seamus O’Shea, Tom Parsons; Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O’Shea, Diarmuid O’Connor; Jason Doherty, Cillian O’Connor, Andy Moran.