It now appears all but certain that our league match next March against the Dubs, which is currently scheduled for Parnell Park on the 20th of the month, will take place instead the previous night under lights at the more glamorous surroundings of HQ.  If the match does goes ahead at Croker, it’ll be our first clash with the Jacks at the venue since our epic All-Ireland semi-final tussle back in 2006.  At a personal level, it should also mark the first time I’ll get to take my little mucker to HQ for a match with him in his colours and me in mine.  Extra security might be required at Croker for the occasion.

Despite what the small lad will undoubtedly think, the stakes won’t be as high when the two counties meet next March but it’ll be a useful run-out in Croke Park for James Horan and whatever team he’s fielding at that stage.  It’s also a clever move by the Dubs, who, despite the disappointment of narrowly losing out to Cork in August, will face into 2011 in a more positive mindframe than they’ve had for years.   As Martin Breheny points out, Dublin’s absence from Croke Park for their league matches in recent years has coincided with the longest run they’ve had without an All-Ireland title and so a diet of high-profile league games at HQ over the spring – Cork, Kerry and Down are all home fixtures for the Dubs in next year’s NFL Division 1 – could be of significant help to Pat Gilroy as he plans another assault on the summit in 2011.

In other news, TG4 have announced details of their Ladies Football Team of the Decade with Christina Heffernan and Cora Staunton both making it onto the chosen fifteen.  Very well done to them.