Carton injury blow for Dublin

Dublin hurler Peadar Carton will be sidelined for up to two months after breaking his collar bone.

The O'Toole's attacker sustained the injury during Dublin's 5-23 to 1-7 NHL Division 2A walloping of Wicklow at Parnell Park yesterday.

Carton, who made his league debut a week previously against Derry, scored a point before shipping the blow. He will return to the fracture clinic later this week and it is hoped that surgery will not be required after he suffered a clean break.

Meanwhile, the Dublin footballers could include Conal Keaney in their starting line-up for next Saturday's NFL Division 1A clash with Offaly (Parnell Park, throw-in 7.45pm).

The Ballyboden St Enda's star sat out the Dubs' recent O'Byrne Cup campaign and the opening two rounds of the league after undergoing ankle surgery.

But Keaney may make an earlier-than-expected return to county colours with Dublin manager Paul Caffrey currently without the suspended quartet of Alan Brogan, Ciarán Whelan, Kevin Bonner and Bryan Cullen, as well as the honeymooing Ray Cosgrove.

Nonetheless, Cosgrove's clubmates Paul Griffin, Darren Magee, Mark Vaughan and Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin are all back in training with the county panel after the ending of Kilmacud Crokes' AIB All-Ireland Championship run.