A tight battle but Dublin can overcome Keaney blow

ALL week, Limerick have been dealing with the possibility that they would be without their outstanding midfielder Donal O’Grady for this game.

But yesterday Dublin were dealt the blow that star man, Conal Keaney, will miss the game after breaking his ankle in a motorbike accident. On the surface, then, it would appear even. Each side missing a big name, otherwise the suddenness of what happened would have had a greater negative impact on Dublin.

With Keaney in the side, and with O’Grady doubtful, you’d have tipped the Dubs without hesitation. They had a very good league, culminating in a massive win in the final over Kilkenny, then went on to overpower Galway in the Leinster semi-final. Their performance — or lack of performance — in the provincial final against Kilkenny is a worry.

It was obvious that day that, while Dublin have progressed under Anthony Daly, they still have a way to go to reach the very top level.

Limerick have regrouped superbly this year under their new manager, Donal O’Grady. No relation to his namesake, the Corkman has done wonders for a team and a county that had been convulsed by controversy last year with all the disenchanted players back in the fold. With several newcomers in the side, notably teenagers Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes at wing-forward and full-forward respectively and the two flyers in the corner-forward positions, Graeme Mulcahy and Seán Tobin, they flew through Division 2. They overcame Clare in a well-contested final, gave Waterford the fright of their lives in the Munster semi-final and have beaten Wexford and Antrim in the qualifiers. They come into this then with tails up.

Limerick on the up then, definitely, Dublin after taking a couple of big hits — the loss to Kilkenny in the Leinster final, the loss of the inspirational Keaney.

So, what’s it to be?

Tomás Brady and Stephen Hiney, sterling defenders and very important in the dressing room also, are both long-term casualties, losses no team could easily afford, but Keaney is massive.

This, then, is as tentative a vote as can be given.

Verdict: Dublin