Kickhams hope DCU 3 released

Frank Roche

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS boss Paul Curran is hoping against hope that his 'DCU Three' will be released from playing with their college as the Sigerson Cup draws to a climax.

James McCarthy, Dean Rock and Davy Byrne are all part of the DCU squad hoping to retain their Sigerson crown next weekend in Athlone, where they face a semi-final date with DIT on Friday and a potential final 24 hours later.

The trio were involved in the first two rounds of the higher education championship but were rested, by agreement between club and college, for DCU's quarter-final against UCD last Thursday.

That game took place, in their absence, just two days before they helped Ballymun to a famous All-Ireland club semi-final victory over Dr Crokes in Thurles.

However, with the Sigerson finals weekend happening a full three weeks before the club final on St Patrick's Day, Curran hinted that they could end up playing both.

"No decision yet. I'd be hoping that they'd be released, but I don't know. We'll have to talk to Niall Moyna and the (DCU) management team," he said.

He outlined that two of the players, Rock and McCarthy, are on scholarships.

"That's the problem!" Curran admitted, adding: "Look, I understand both sides of it. I don't think the games will do them any harm. I don't like wrapping them up in cotton wool or anything like that, but we would like to have them.

"But look, it's a month to the All-Ireland. We'd just be hoping that they'd play and maybe avoid injury. That's all we want, because the games won't do them any harm. They're young men."