Carey not closing door on inter-county career

DJ CAREY has refuted reports that he has retired from inter-county hurling but the Kilkenny forward has yet to decide on whether to l return to Brian Cody’s squad this year.

Suggestions that the Young Irelands player had finally called time on a senior inter-county career that stretches back as far as 1990 arose when he referred to himself as a ‘non-player’ in a radio interview last weekend.

He was speaking about the GPA EGM in Portlaoise at the time in his capacity as the association’s president but he told the Kilkenny People newspaper this week that nothing has been decided in relation to his playing days with the county as of yet.

“I haven’t done anything yet,” said Carey, who turns 36 this year. “But I haven’t closed the door on theinter-county scene. I have just been too busy to get involved.”

Carey has previously indicated that he would only make up his mind after the resumption of the Kilkenny senior league, which is due to get underway shortly.

Meanwhile, Dublin will tonight attempt to have the venue for their Leinster Championship match with Longford moved from Pearse Park.

It was initially believed that the ground could hold 18,000 spectators but it emerged this week that, due to safety considerations and the fact that one terrace has yet to be constructed, that figure has been revised to 13,000.

That will patently not be enough to satisfy the demand for tickets from the capital and Dublin county board secretary John Costello confirmed yesterday that they will be seeking an alternative at tonight’s meeting of the Leinster Council.

Portlaoise has been suggested by chairman of the Dublin Supporters Association Joe Nugent. O’Moore Park can accommodate 30,000 fans and would be easily accessible for both sets of supporters.

Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney has stated that they would be amenable to a change as long as both counties agree, but Longford appear adamant that nothing has changed since November when the game was designated as a home tie for them.