Massive blow for Dublin as Keaney ko’d with knee injury

DUBLIN have been rocked by the news Conal Keaney is out of tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Limerick after damaging his knee in a motor accident yesterday.

The Ballyboden St Enda’s man was on his way to work in Blessington when a van accidentally collided with his motorbike close to St Anne’s GAA club in Bohernabreena.

Keaney was taken to Tallaght Hospital for treatment.

The injury has ruled the former dual player out for the remainder of the season and seriously damaged Dublin’s chances of reaching a first All-Ireland semi-final in 63 years.

His absence from Thurles tomorrow is considered so significant his team’s odds have gone out from 4/7 to 8/13.

“He’s a huge loss, an incredible loss,” said Ballyboden manager Liam Hogan.

“The one thing I see that he has brought to this Dublin team this year is work and team ethic,” remarked Hogan.

“He hasn’t been scoring as much as he would have with Ballyboden but he has worked tirelessly to put others into scoring positions and to win frees. He has been sacrificing his own game for his team-mates and now it’s up to them to do something for him. They owe it to Conal. This is their test and they have to man up now. Whoever comes in for Conal has to empty the tank.”

Hogan, who was in touch with Keaney’s girlfriend, Jenna, as the pair were in the ambulance heading to hospital, added: “I feel for Conal. Nobody really appreciates just how big the decision he made moving from the footballers to the hurlers this year.”

Meanwhile, the Leinster Leader newspaper reports tickets for today’s All-Ireland qualifier double-header at Croke Park were stolen during a robbery of Kildare’s Hawkfield training centre outside Newbridge. A quantity of tickets as well as cash was taken. A considerable amount of damage was also done at the training centre.