Blow for Daly as Keaney snubs Dublin hurlers

CONAL KEANEY has left Dublin hurling manager Anthony Daly disappointed after deciding again to concentrate solely on football for the coming season.

The Ballyboden St Enda’s ace told Daly the bad news yesterday and it will be a major disappointment for the hurlers as they look to build on last year’s impressive progress.

The news came as Ladbrokes closed the books on the next Dublin senior football captain after the position was reportedly offered to Keaney by manager Pat Gilroy.

However, that assumption was wide of the mark as Paul Griffin was last night re-appointed as football captain for the 2010 season.

Keaney was a hurling All Star nominee back in 2003 but opted out of the hurling squad in 2005 to concentrate on his football career.

He made his senior football debut during the 2005 National League campaign and has captured five Leinster titles with Dublin.

However, Daly was optimistic Keaney would return to the hurling fold and those hopes were raised before Christmas when another dual player, Shane Ryan, returned.