Tenacity, commitment, skill, leadership. Conal Keaney had it all.
Keaney has it all. He’s still swinging his legs and will still swing a hurl with Ballyboden St Enda’s.
As of today, however, Keaney is now a former Dublin hurler and footballer. Or footballer and hurler. The order of the wording is not important. What is important is the drive and desire he brought to both sporting passions.
I have informed Dublin Hurling Management that I will not be playing in 2016 #retirement Wishing all players the best of luck #Dubs4Liam16
— Conal keaney (@ConalKeaney) April 8, 2016
The 33-year-old got his first taste of intercounty life as a Dublin hurler, in 2003.
He made his name, next, as a forward with Dublin’s footballers. During a seven season stint under the likes of Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey and Pat Gilroy, he claimed one National League title and five Leinster titles.
Still hurling for his club, Ballyboden, at the time, Keaney made the decision to re-focus on hurling.
In 2011, he left one county panel for another. The Liam MacCarthy was the focus.
It was a shame then, especially for one that had given so much to The Dubs’ re-emergence as a footballing power, that he missed out on the Sam Maguire success of 2011.
There was triumph, though. Keaney won a National Hurling League in 2011 and was a key part of the Dublin side that memorably captured the Leinster title in 2013.
Within Ballyboden, he is a dual star legend. There have been a stack of hurling titles and currently reignes supreme, as an All-Ireland champion, with the footballers.
