Dublin blow as star hurling trio ruled out for league campaign

ANTHONY DALY has revealed Conal Keaney and Tomás Brady will play no part in Dublin’s defence of the Allianz Hurling League title.

Even worse news for Sky Blues fans, however, is that former captain Stephen Hiney may not even be back in time to compete in the Leinster championship.

Keaney, Brady and Hiney all suffered cruciate knee ligament injuries at various points in 2011.

Hiney’s was a particularly complicated injury and Daly’s admission that he could easily miss the Leinster championship will naturally raise concerns that he may be out for the entire year.

That would mark nearly two full seasons of injury hell since he first suffered the setback in March of last year.

All three were high profile absentees from yesterday’s annual Dubs Stars challenge in Tallaght where Daly’s Dublin team took on and overcame the county’s best club players.

“They’ll see none of the League, any of the three, not Tomás either,” said manager Daly.

“Stephen won’t see the Leinster championship to be honest. Stephen still has a lot of work but they’re doing it, all of them. No better men. They’re up the mountains cycling this morning I think.

“Look, a cruciate injury is a cruciate injury and you have to respect it. You have to look at the likes of what (Henry) Shefflin did last year to time his run to get back there for a Leinster semi-final. That’s the way we’ll be looking at the lads.”

Daly admitted after watching his team beat the Dubs Stars 3-23 to 3-13 thanks to goals from Daire Plunkett, Shane Ryan and Peadar Carton that he has a number of high profile challenge games lined up.

The Walsh Cup doesn’t start until late January this year because of the later start in the Allianz League.

“We’re not out in the Walsh Cup until January 29 so we’ll play a few challenge matches,” continued Daly. “We have a few lined up against Gort and Loughgiel and maybe one with Limerick as well.

“Hopefully we’ll experiment in the Walsh Cup as well. The likes of Danny Sutcliffe, Conor Clinton, Ronan Walsh, they looked sharp today and are mad for road.”

Daly says he’s looking to uncover three or four new players and admits the League will be extra pressing this year with just five games guaranteed. Of course, Dublin are also reigning champions so, this time they’ll be the hunted.

“Every game is crucial,” said the Clare legend. “It was the same when it was eight but really with six teams in the top tier you really can’t afford slip ups.”