Greg McEneaney: Dublin Footballers Prioritize Game Amidst Protest Rumors

Dublin footballer Greg McEneaney has played down talk of protest action in the upcoming National League over sponsors Allianz, maintaining that the players 'never spoke about it' collectively. RTÉ Sport reported earlier this week that Dublin players were ready to refuse to appear in front of Allianz branded signage during media dealings, due to links between Allianz, Israel and the war in Gaza. But defender McEneaney said the reports caught him by surprise and that formal protest action hasn't been agreed upon, nor even discussed by the group. The Skerries man said that he personally doesn't know enough about the Allianz issue to have formed a solid opinion and is keen to just play football. The Dublin footballers are scheduled to play Donegal in Round 1 on Saturday at Croke Park while the hurlers will take on Clare in Ennis on Sunday. Asked if he has any thoughts on the protest reports, defender McEneaney shrugged. "To be honest, I was literally scrolling through Instagram, and the first I saw of it was by The Sunday Game - they posted it," he said. "We never spoke about it, never had anything (agreed). "But obviously every individual, it's up to himself. It's his own opinion, he can do whatever he wants at the end of the day. "For me, I don't really have an opinion on it. I don't know enough about it. I'll just be there to play football on Saturday, I suppose." Asked to clarify if the issue of Allianz's sponsorship and potential protest action was discussed at all among the panel, McEneaney shook his head. "No, it wasn't discussed at all," he said. "We actually aren't sure at all where the source is from. It hasn't been discussed once." RTÉ Sport was made aware of the potential protest plans by both footballers and hurlers from multiple sources. Separately, former Dublin footballer Dr David Hickey, and 15 other ex-Dublin footballers, reportedly signed a letter that was sent to new county manager Ger Brennan, praising the panel for taking a stance. Pat Gilroy, Dublin's All-Ireland winning manager from 2011, also signed the letter, along with Philly McMahon and Michael Darragh Macauley. The letter hailed the current players' "great moral and courageous protest" and stated that they would be remembered "as a group of young men who dared challenge the status quo and use their prominence in Irish life to highlight the atrocities being committed in Gaza". It read: "This magnificent gesture will mark this team as special. We believe it will also define your team as much more than a group of footballers." The launch of the 2026 Allianz Leagues will take place on Thursday though no current players from competing counties will be involved. Former Meath footballer Graham Geraghty and Tipperary hurling great Paudie Maher are listed for media interviews. It will be Allianz's 34th year as title sponsors.