Friday's GAA In The Papers

Catch up on all the latest news, views and GAA-related rumours in www.gaa.ie's latest daily feature, GAA In the Papers.

Most of today’s publications lead with stories relating to the build to this weekend's Allianz Football League.

The Irish Examiner writes that at least 40,000 people are expected to turn up for the League opener at Croke Park this Saturday night.

If the expected figures are to be correct, it would surpass the 35,000 turn out for two separate double headers at last year's Spring Series.

In the Irish Independent, coverage of the highly anticipated match of Dublin playing host to their old foes Kerry at Croke Park.

Just five months after the Dubs overcame the Kingdom in that single point victory to claim their first All-Ireland Championship in 16 years, the facts are suggesting that the Metropolitans will come out as victors once again.

According to several of the papers this morning, another twist has been taken in the Séanie Johnston proposed transfer to Kildare club St Kevin's with his native club Cavan Gaels given the star forward their blessing for the move.

This latest move does not open the door for Johnston's move to the Lilywhites, as the Central Competitions Control Committee must meet following concerns over the declared residence of the Breffni captain in Straffan.

Graham Geraghty is likely to make his first league appearance in four years for Meath as they take on Monaghan on Saturday night in their Allianz Football League opener.

The 38-year-old full forward made a surprise comeback to his playing career last summer with an appearance against Kildare in the Leinster Football Championship at Croke Park but since taking on a selectors role with the Royals, he says others must come first now.

"I hope to play myself but we have a few fellas who need game time too so a lot will depend on how the game pans out," said Geraghty to the Irish Independent.

"It's strange being in a room picking a Meath team. You'd be thinking about who needs to play and who deserves a chance but you also want to be there yourself but you'd nearly be afraid to put yourself forward."

Geraghty is using Dublin's league form last year as a formula that must be used if teams wish to succeed during the summer months.

"If you look at Dublin last year, they got to the league final and won the All-Ireland. Cork won the league and the All-Ireland the year before and teams are taking the league very seriously. We'll be looking to carry form through the league and into the Championship and we'll take it from there.

And finally, speaking to the Irish Examiner Kerry Hurling boss John Meyler is expecting no favours from his old friend Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

Kerry take on Cork in the Waterford Crystal Cup tomorrow and Meyler expects a tough lesson to be learned if his side are not on song from the word go.

"Cork will teach us a lesson if we don’t get at it from the word go," Meyler said to the Irish Examiner.

"It’s a good game to have a few weeks out from the start of the league. Cork have played a few challenge matches lately, against UCC and CIT, so it will be very tough but if we are exposed then we will need to learn from that”.