DOG DAYS FOR DUBS

Farrell needs quick fixes ahead of Galway opener

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goalkeeper is a long term issue for the Dubs with Cluxton now 43.

CRAZY as it seems, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that Dublin coud finish bottom of their All-Ireland group and exit the Championship before the preliminary quarter-final stage.

With an opening group game away to Connacht champions Galway, who turned them over in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final, it's an incredibly difficult start.

This is followed by a home game against All-Ireland champions Armagh.

Dublin could easily find themselves in a do or die Round 3 game against Derry.

Derry have fallen off the radar but were the toughest fourth seed draw going — and Dublin got them.

Dessie Farrell is facing perhaps his greatest challenge yet as a manager. Dublin couldn't have pulled a harder group.

Even if Dublin don't win in Salthill on Saturday evening, they have to start finding the right combinations to make sure they get out of the group.

It's well documented that Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Paul Mannion, Michael Fitzsimons and Jack McCaffrey are all gone.

John Small is not back long and looked rusty in the shock Leinster semi-final defeat by Meath at Portlaoise two and a half weeks ago.

That was Dublin's first Leinster Championship loss in 15 years. They weren't great against Wicklow either and were well beaten by Tyrone in the final round of the league.