Connolly out for league tie with Mayo

2 February 2013; Diarmuid Connolly, Dublin, in action against Thomas Clancy, Cork. Allianz Football League, Division 1, Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Conor McKeon

DIARMUID CONNOLLY will miss Dublin's next Allianz League Division 1 clash with Mayo in Croke Park on March 2 after management confirmed he will be sidelined for four weeks after suffering an ankle injury against Kerry in Killarney last Sunday.

The St Vincent's attacker could also be in doubt for Dublin's clash with Kildare on March 10, depending on how well his injury responds to treatment over the coming weeks.

Connolly was carted from the Fitzgerald Stadium pitch in the first-half of Dublin's cakewalk victory after sustaining a heavy bang to his right ankle and underwent on scan on Tuesday to ascertain the full extent of the damage.

Tests revealed there had been no break or serious ligament damage and the injury is, thankfully for both the player and Dublin, on the less severe end of the scale.

He will, however, miss the visit of last September's All-Ireland semi-final conquerors Mayo having started both of Dublin's league matches to date, opening up a spot in Jim Gavin's forward line. As a consequence, Ciarán Kilkenny could yet be in line to make his league debut for Dublin after Castleknock's interest in the All-Ireland Club JFC ended last Saturday as could both Paul Mannion - who started the league opener against Cork before suffering concussion - and Philly Ryan - his replacement.

However, all three are members of this year's Dublin U21 panel - along with several more of Jim Gavin's panel - and are set to play with Dessie Farrell's U21 side in their provincial opener against Carlow in Parnell Park next Tuesday when a victory would mean Dublin play their Leinster quarter-final with Longford on Wednesday, March 6, midweek between the Mayo and Kildare NFL games.

Michael Darragh Macauley will also miss the Allianz FL clash with Mayo owing to the suspension arising out of KIllarney last Sunday, although Denis Bastick will be available after serving out his own four-week ban.

Doherty stars for DIT

DIT are safely though to Sigerson Cup final weekend in Athlone IT and will play the winners of today's clash between DCU and UCD after a 2-15 to 0-12 win over NUI Maynooth in yesterday's quarter-final in Bray.

Mayo star Jason Doherty bagged 0-8 (4f) for DIT, one of eight players to get on the scoresheet over the hour, with Dublin senior panelist Nicky Devereux bagging a 20th-minute goal and Offaly forward, Bernard Allen claiming the other.

UCD Freshers footballers outclassed St Mary's of Belfast, 1-21 to 1-5, to progress to the All-Ireland Freshers Final where they will play DCU on February 28.