The enforced withdrawal of Kerry footballers Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy from the Vodafone GAA All Stars tour to Dubai which begins on Tuesday has opened up a window of opportunity for two of the country's leading scoring forwards.
Derry's Paddy Bradley and Cork's James Masters, who were nominated for All Star awards in both 2005 and 2006, have been called up to the touring party and will fly out from Dublin tomorrow for the flight to the Gulf.
Cooper cannot travel because of his involvement in the All-Ireland club quarter-final with Dr Crokes next Sunday while Donaghy has basketball commitments.
GAA President Nickey Brennan leads the party on the second All Stars visit to Dubai.
Other players called up as replacements last week include Sean O’Sullivan (Kerry), Alan Quirke (Cork), Shane Ryan (Dublin) and Brian Kavanagh (Longford).
Kavanagh is the first player from Longford to travel with an All Star party since the tours were revived in 2001.
The All Stars of 2005 will play the 2006 selection in the Dubai Polo Grounds next Saturday.
The Exhibition Game is the highlight of the Gulf Gaelic Games tournament which is being hosted by the Dubai Celts GAA Club.
Over 40 teams from the Gulf region, Asia, Ireland and London will take part in a two day extravaganza on Friday and Saturday.
