Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny is focusing on getting his own game right as the situation between Donegal and the GAA intensifies.
Officials from Donegal and the GAA are set to meet tomorrow to discuss venue selection for the Super 8s phase of the Championship.
It was confirmed yesterday that the Leinster and Ulster champions will meet at GAA HQ on 14 July at 7pm but Donegal have questioned the fairness of Dublin having two of three group games in the capital.
Dublin will play either in Cork or Tyrone in their second match and are set to have another game, their 'home' tie at Croke Park against either Armagh or Roscommon on 4/5 August.
"I suppose as players we can only really focus on ourselves and focus on Donegal now and all that sort of stuff," Kilkenny told RTÉ Sport.
"It's at a high level, an administrative level, so we are just focusing on getting ourselves right individually and collectively and then after that wherever we play is wherever we play and we'll go out and try to do our best.
"Going down to Healy Park or Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be really exciting. And the challenges that brings and I suppose the excitement that brings in the National League, going to different venues will be exciting.
"When you’re growing up and you’re a young lad, you’re hitting the ball out the back, you’re always dreaming of playing in Croke Park as well. That is a dream come true as well."
As for where Dublin's home ground is?
"In the National Leagues when we play in Croke Park, we essentially rent it out because we want to facilitate all the young boys and girls that want to go and see their heroes and their role models play in Croke Park.
"That’s massively important to let as much people, we’re very fortunate that we’ve a big fan-base to let them go and see the games, I think that’s very important."
Next game for Dublin is Donegal and Kilkenny is expecting a tough challenge.
"They're a serious team, a serious outfit. We had a really competitive game with them in the National League. They've been racking up serious scores in all of their games so far.
"They are a very athletic, fast, skilful team with a great panel. So we know it's going to be a serious challenge and a serious contest so we're just preparing ourselves as best as we can for that challenge on Saturday week."
Donegal's Paddy McBrearty will be out for the game and the rest of the championship after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the Ulster final win over Fermanagh.
He's been a key player for Ulster champions, kicking eight points, including six from play, in the win over Derry, and six points against Down in the semi-final.
"I'd know Paddy well," said Kilkenny. "I was in touch with him after the game and was devastated to hear that he had done it. I know how much work he puts into his football, his training, and how hard he works off the field as well.
"So it was devastating to hear that, and I just hope that he can get back as quick as he can and as healthy as he can because he's an incredible footballer and a really nice guy. I wish him the best of luck."
In 2014 Kilkenny suffered a cruciate injury in Dublin’s league win over Kildare, ruling him out for the Championship, but he came back stronger than ever and has advice for the injured Donegal star.
"All you can do is spend the time to reflect and work on different areas and different muscles in your body in the gym and concentrate on different areas that you'd like to improve yourself and do other things in his life over the next six to eight months.
"He just needs to, I suppose, work really hard in the gym and he's very lucky he has a great medical team in Donegal to look after him. I know he'll get back fit and strong."
On the training field, Dublin are full steam ahead as they prepare for the next stage of the Championship and Kilkenny is relishing the opportunity to be part of something different in the inaugural Super 8s.
"It will be something very interesting and exciting. We don't know how it will work, we can make an educated guess in how it might turn out.
"It's something we are really excited about and I know other teams and supporters are really excited about. The hurling has been really exciting, hopefully it can be something like that that can bring some excitement to all GAA people"
Follow all the weekend's Gaelic football action via live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app, watch live and exclusive coverage of Roscommon v Armagh on RTÉ News Now and listen to live exclusive national radio commentary on all four Round 4 qualifiers.
