Former Dublin star makes a surprise prediction for Leinster Hurling Championship

He’s looking at it through blue-tinted glasses.

Conal Keaney was a jack of trades in his day, representing his county in both hurling and football. Keaney was part of the team that last won a Leinster Hurling Championship for Dublin back in 2013 and despite the province usually being the stomping ground for Kilkenny, Keaney holds hope for his home county.

 “I think it’s wide open, I think it’s really wide open.  “I think Kilkenny will have a kick in them, I don’t think Wexford will win it and if Dublin can get over Galway, I really fancy Dublin, I really do, there has to be a kick in this Dublin team.”

Keaney also decided not to back current All-Ireland Champions and Allianz League runners-up Tipperary, instead choosing to back Derek McGrath’s Waterford.

 “I’m going to go with Waterford…they were not too upset to not go any further in the league by all accounts.  “They’ve been playing a lot of challenge games and racking up some serious scores and I really think this is going to be their year to really nail it down.”

Waterford were knocked out at the Allianz hurling league by eventual winners Galway after surrendering an eight-point lead but their side that day was far from their strongest with McGrath making nine changes from his full strength side that beat Clare a week prior. Keaney’s predictions were not the most left field of the lot with SportsJOE editor Mikey Stafford believing that Clare could be Munster champions in their first under new managers Donald Moloney and Gerry O’Connor.

 “They stank up the league so they must have a massive master plan. (Moloney & O’Connor) are smart they know those players, we know they’re good players.  “I think there’s going to be bells and whistles out of Clare.”

Dublin will open up their campaign against Galway on May 28 whereas Clare will have to wait until June 4 when they play Limerick in the Munster Championship Semi Final. You can listen to the full predictions below from 47:05 https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/ross-king-interview-full-time-managers-new-championship-structures