Dublin star Treacy to miss U21 campaign

RISING Dublin star David Treacy will miss the remainder of his county’s assault on the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling championship after sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage.

Dublin senior boss Anthony Daly revealed the news last night while also dropping a broad hint that he will remain in charge of the Sky Blues for the 2011 season.

Cuala clubman Treacy played a key role for Dublin during their march to Leinster U21 glory but he damaged his knee at training on Thursday evening and now faces a race to be fit for the start of next season. Full-forward Treacy’s absence for Dublin’s All-Ireland semi-final against Galway on August 21 is another hammer blow for boss Richie Stakelum who is also planning without dual star Rory O’Carroll, who will be at full-back for the Dublin senior footballers in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.

Daly, meanwhile, has hinted that he wishes to remain in charge of Dublin’s senior hurlers next year – despite the shattering disappointment of losing to Antrim in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Dublin appeared to be making real progress with victory over Clare but slipped badly on the Antrim banana skin to leave Daly devastated and considering his future.

Speaking RTÉ Radio One’s ‘Take Your Point’ last night, Daly broke his silence on his Dublin future.

Clare’s 1995 and 1997 All-Ireland winning captain said: “We took on the U21s with the same management team, with Richie as manager and I’m a selector. We’re still in the All-Ireland U21, we’re Leinster champions and we decided to focus on that after the Antrim game.

“We got another hammer blow on Thursday night. Along with losing Rory O’Carroll to football, David Treacy did his cruciate.”

When pressed on his future with the senior team, Daly replied: “Being involved at this level is fantastic. You’re involved at the elite level and you feel you can make a difference if you alter the training and get them to buy in. I love hurling. Playing is the ultimate – we all cling to that. It’s hard to let go of it – it’s a bit of a drug.”