Farrell confirms John Small exit, says timing of Cluxton return coincidental

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell has confirmed that John Small is the sixth player from last year's Championship team to depart the group.

Attacker Ciaran Kilkenny - who was injured for this evening's NFL Division 1 defeat of Galway, a result that keeps Dublin well in the title hunt - stated during the week that Small was 'unlikely' to play this year.

Speaking at Croke Park this evening, Farrell agreed that the decorated Ballymun defender is almost certain to sit out the season.

Read More Cluxton back in blue as Bugler brace helps sink Galway

The Leinster champions were already resigned to being without Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey and Michael Fitzsimons, five players who started last year's All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Galway alongside Small.

"Yeah, John is unlikely (to be back) I'd say," said Farrell. "The lads are always...if you had a serious bout of injuries or whatever, I'm sure they wouldn't see you stuck. From their perspective, I think a lot of those lads owe Dublin football nothing. They've considered the situation and decided to hang up the boots so we wish them well."

On the credit side of the ledger, Farrell was at least able to welcome back Stephen Cluxon for his 23rd season of senior football with Dublin, 24 years after he first made his debut in 2001. Farrell said it was 'coincidental' that Cluxton was recalled on the same week that the rules around goalkeepers were changed, effectively keeping them tethered close to their goals.

"He was always going to feature at some stage," said Farrell. "He's part of the panel this year. We're delighted to have him and experience-wise to have that head around the place, particularly given that a lot of the experienced older lads, senior lads, have moved on.

"But it's just coincidental that he happens to be back for this game, he'd a long lay off there and had knee surgery and that type of thing. So he was working his way back to full fitness."

Evan Comerford was initially named to start for Dublin in the official team though Farrell said the Ballymun player was injured, paving the way for Cluxton to step in.

As for Kilkenny's absence, Farrell said that's down to a gash the Castleknock man suffered on his knee, requiring stitches.

"It caused him a couple of problems in terms of stitches and reopening and that type of thing," said Farrell. "We just decided to let it heal properly and to leave him off tonight."

Meanwhile, Galway manager Padraic Joyce showed his ruthless side during the frantic Round 6 tie, taking off both Rob Finnerty and Shane Walsh for poor first-half performances. Finnerty missed an open goal, dropped two point attempts short and struck two wides while Walsh fluffed a close-range free and dropped it short.

Asked why he took them off, a surprised Joyce said it was clear enough.

"They missed about 2-10 between them, so we had to get someone to try and score on the pitch," responded Joyce. "That was it."

Galway are still in the title hunt ahead of next weekend's final round clash with Kerry. It remains to be seen if Joyce opts to start Walsh and Finnerty against the Kingdom.

"We'll see, we'll have to look at the performance overall and review the video and see who played well, who didn't play well. We have to try to get scores on the board, we've still only got 2-13, 15 scores, probably not enough overall to win a game. We're not really breaking the 20-score mark which is needed in a game.

"In saying that, the fact that the rules were changed again during the week, that was probably the most pace I've seen in a game, to be honest. There was great pace to the game, huge energy in it, both teams were at it. We learned a lot from it, it was great."

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