DUBLIN DUAL STAR Conal Keaney has retired from inter-county hurling.
The Ballyboden clubman, who won an All-Ireland senior football club title on St Patrick’s Day, had dropped a hint that he was considering his future with the Dubs back in December, saying “maybe I’m too old to play any more, I don’t know”.
And this morning, the 33-year-old confirmed the news that he has informed manager Ger Cunningham and the staff that he won’t be returning to the Dublin panel for 2016.
Keaney has played a pivotal role for the county’s senior football and hurling teams since making his debut in 2005.
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Tremendous servant and ambassador to the game. Best of luck for the future
He’s been some servant to both Dublin Football and Hurling. He’ll be missed.
Big loss to ye Aideen, what a servant
A gifted hurler… A great servant to the blue shirt. Very hard to perform after a serious knee injury but he has been outstanding in both codes. The very best of luck for the future.
I was afraid of that, still had a lot to offer but boden’s run in the football meant this decision was always likely. Enjoy retirement conal, thanks for your efforts!
Basically carried the team on his own for a few years before his spell with the footballers. Helped bring us a national league and leaves Dublin hurling in a much better place than it was when he came on the scene, thanks Conal.
Delighted to see him win an All Ireland this year especially when he left the footballers a year before won one. A great servant to Dublin Gaa and will be fondly remembered.
Our best ever dual player?
Fantastic hurler who never gave any less than everything he had.
My own personal stand-out memories of him were the Friday morning before the Limerick quarter final in Thurles when the news broke that he had crashed his motorbike and was going to be out for the rest of the year. Hard to argue that we might have won the whole thing, but he was certainly a massive loss for the semi-final against Tipp, when we needed him most. And also, the National League final against Tipperary, when he put over a huge point from the sideline in midfield, in stoppage time, to put another nail in the Kilkenny coffin. A key part of two of the greatest moments in Dublin hurling history, scoring in both the League Final in 2011 and the Leinster Final in 2013.
He played a variety of positions from half-back to full-forward, but his workrate never suffered.
Best of luck in the future, Conal.
That cross field ball to Johnny mcCaffery to score in the league final win against Kilkenny stands out for me.