Dunne may face Ballymackey

Mick back centre after shield final last year
 Newtown boss Paul harty has not given up hope of unleashing winger Mick Dunne on old-rivals Ballymackey despite his hamstring problem.

The 20-year-old North Tipp international is touch and go for the game at Ballymackey Park on Sunday after complaining of tightness in his hamstring last weekend, but a frustrated Harty is yet to admit defeat in his efforts to field his strongest possible team.

"Mick didn't play last weekend, but he has not pulled his hamstring," he said. "There is a tightness there and not playing him last weekend was a precautionary measure, but we hope he will be okay for Sunday."

He added: "He didn't train yesterday (Wednesday) and we will have to see how he is over the next couple of days, but we are very optimistic. A hamstring is one of those areas where you have to be very careful and especially with this club's shortage of players at the moment."

With Colm O'Brien, Kieran Hogan and Dereck Ryan all away at weekend and hurling keeping others away, Harty could be forgiven for thinking his luck has deserted him.

There are some who believe Captain Dunne is not needed in the team. Newtown's only two wins in the premiership this season have come in the absence of Dunne against Arra Rovers and Ballinahinch. 

"He's not the real captain and everyone knows it," say's new left back Patsy "Curly" Quigley. "We have won two games recently without him and personally I don't think he fits into this team".