Two-time All-Star Diarmuid Connolly has reportedly received interest from Dublin hurling boss Pat Gilroy ahead of the hurlers Leinster round robin opener with Kilkenny.
Dublin will take on the Cats in the first round of the revamped All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and it is understood that Gilroy may reach out to Connolly who has been on the outskirts of the Dublin football squad this year.
According to Damian Lawlor of The Times, speculation is mounting that Gilroy could ask Connolly to join his hurling panel for the 2018 championship.
“Despite protestations that he is merely “resting up”, Connolly has dropped out of the Dublin senior football squad and could be tempted to link up with his fellow St Vincent’s clubman, Gilroy, who was very keen for him to play hurling earlier in the year,” wrote Lawlor.
“Gilroy has more than 40 players in his ranks, but management were known to be eager for Connolly to link up with them earlier in the season.“
Dublin manager Jim Gavin said earlier this month that Connolly was merely resting and that he had not been cut from the senior football squad.
“At the moment we are giving Diarmuid a rest – as we are to a couple of other players who didn’t partake today,” said Gavin after the draw with Galway.
“Kevin McManamon is just back from Boston. He was there with the Irish boxing team in his capacity with them. And Darren Daly as well.
“It’s just trying to get that balance right. We have 10 weeks now to go to championship and it’s just trying to get that balance right for those players.”
