HURLING Dublin 2-19 Dub Stars 2-13: ITWAS HARD for Dublin manager Anthony Daly to conceal his annoyance when asked about Conal Keaney's absence at Saturday's Dub Stars hurling clash in Blanchardstown. Keaney was pencilled in to take part in both the hurling and football games at the weekend.
Daly reported that Keaney was at a wedding along with David Curtin and Stephen Hiney, but undoubtedly Keaney’s continued absence from the hurling set-up is the proverbial monkey he can’t seem to shake off his back.
The former All-Ireland-winning captain, however, was more than happy to talk about new recruit Ryan O’Dwyer who pitched in with two points on his debut for the Metropolitans.
O’Dwyer recently transferred from Cashel King Cormacs to Kilmacud Crokes and at a time when a Dublin club were seeking to limit the amount of intercounty transfers into clubs at the recent Dublin County board AGM, Daly was more than happy to sing the former Tipp senior’s praises.
“He is a right one. I saw him a lot as a minor and an under-21 and against Clare when I was still with Clare. He’s a hardy boy and you can’t buy those qualities he will bring now.”
The star turn on the day, though, was Niall McMorrow who came in after five minutes for Shane Ryan.
The Ballyboden man took a long pass off Friends of Dublin Hurling player of the year Joey Boland to open up a seven-point lead midway though the half.
The Dub Stars, following a slow enough start, found the back of the net on 25 minutes when Conor McCormack followed in after fellow Ballyboden club man Paul Ryan had seen an effort come back off the post.
By half-time Dublin’s lead had grown to 1-12 to 1-5 but with Brigid’s player Daire Plunkett featuring well, Dublin Stars remained competitive. McMorrow, however, struck for Dublin’s second goal on 25 minutes and although Shane Durkin countered at the other end, Dublin were easy winners in the end.
Daly was very happy with McMorrow’s contribution when speaking after the game: “Niall in fairness would be a top-of-the-ground man and on the astro he would be hard to mark.
“And you know he has a nice bit of work done in the gym. We rate Niall as a serious prospect and hopefully today will be a serious boost for him going forward.
“A lot of lads did well today and particularly Declan Dwyer who wasn’t even in the panel last year.”
Dublin begin their Walsh Cup campaign in the third week of January when they take on the winners of Antrim and Westmeath.
Should Antrim progress, it will be the first time the two teams have met since Dublin’s capitulation at Croke Park last summer.
Reflecting on that ill fated clash, Daly said: “It was what it is now. It’s behind us and hopefully we can learn the lessons from it.
“Hopefully it doesn’t happen to us again – that would be the key thing. We’re in 2011 now so we have to try and put it to bed,” added Daly.
DUBLIN: F McGarry, R Trainor, T Brady, O Gough, J Sheanon, J Boland (0-1), N Corcorcan, J McCaffrey (0-1, 65), M O'Brien (0-1), P Kelly (0-2), R O'Dwyer (0-2), L Rushe (0-2), S Ryan (0-1), D O'Dwyer (0-3), A McCrabbe (0-3,1f). Subs: S Lambert, R Walsh, N McMorrow (2-3).
DUB STARS: G Maguire, R O'Loughlin, D Spain, M O'Sullivan, M May, S Nolan, M Travers (0-1), S Durkin (1-1), C Kellett, S Loughlin, C McCormack (1-1), D Plunkett (0-3),T Connolly, C McBride (0-3), P Ryan (0-4, 2f) Subs: C Doyle, D Connolly.
Referee: Dave O'Donovan(St Mark's).
