Carey likely to capture Cats captaincy if club wins

DJ CAREY, who made a sensational return after being out of action for almost a year, is probably only a game away from captaining Kilkenny next season when they set out in defence of their All-Ireland crown.

Carey, who looks certain to collect his ninth Allstar award following his explosive play in the concluding stages of the championship, will almost certainly take over the captaincy if his club Young Irelands win next Sunday’s Kilkenny county SHC final.

His inter-county colleague on the Gowran-based club side, Charlie Carter, will also be in the reckoning should Young Irelands overcome Dunnamaggin at Nowlan Park.

But all the smart money will be on Carey to succeed Andy Comerford. Carey previously captained Kilkenny in 1997 when Clare won the All-Ireland for the second time in three years.

Should Dunnamaggin win, outstanding full back Noel Hickey will be an automatic choice. When Dunnamaggin last won the Kilkenny championship in 1998, Hickey’s brother Tom led the county to Leinster honours the following year.

Victory for New Irelands would crown what has been a truly remarkable year for Carey.

He missed the National League and the Leinster championship after he damaged his neck in a car accident and then undergoing an appendix operation.

But Carey’s displays on his return for the All-Ireland semi-final against Tipp, and in the subsequent final victory over Clare re-established him as the most exciting forward of modern times.