'Cruciate' cloud lifts as Dublin trio return

Tomás Brady, Stephen Hiney and Conal Keaney will complete their recoveries from cruciate knee ligament injuries when they line out for Dublin against Laois tomorrow evening.

The trio, who all suffered cruciate damage last year, returned with their clubs recently and Anthony Daly feels the Leinster SHC quarter-final in Tullamore (throw-in 5pm) will provide an ideal test for them.

Indeed, Na Fianna clubman Brady, pencilled in at left corner back, is back at O'Connor Park where he sustained his season-ending injury against Galway twelve months ago.

Peter Kelly, Brady's replacement at full-back, and the fit-again Hiney will anchor the Dubs' defence, with promising youngster Danny Sutcliffe making his first Championship start at wing forward.

Tipperary native Ryan O'Dwyer misses out due to suspension, while former All-Star Alan McCrabbe, who aggravated a shoulder injury in training this week, has joined Paul Schutte, Ross O'Carroll and Martin Quilty on the injury list.

Buoyed by the inclusion of Brady, Hiney and Keaney, midfielder and captain John McCaffrey said: " It 's great (having them back), it's added massively to the panel. The lads have been brilliant.

"But, you know, the whole panel in general has really come together as a group. I think everyone really believes that something special could happen if we get things right.

" I haven 't been on a panel that 's been so strong since I came on the scene. That 's the strength in depth that you need going forward.

"If you want to go and win things, you 're going to need a big, strong panel and I think that 's what we have at the moment."

If Dublin overcome the O'Moore men as expected, they will have three weeks to prepare for a semi-final clash with reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.

DUBLIN (SHC v Laois): Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Peter Kelly, Tomás Brady; Stephen Hiney, Joey Boland, Michael Carton; John McCaffrey (capt), Shane Durkin; Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe, Conal Keaney; Paul Ryan, Conor McCormack, David Treacy.

Subs: Alan Nolan, Peadar Carton, David Curtin, Eamon Dillon, Oisin Gough, Simon Lambert, Niall McMorrow, Maurice O’Brien, David O’Callaghan, Shane Stapleton, Ruairi Trainor.