There aren't too many dual code stars left in the GAA, and the sport has lost another one. Dublin's Conal Keaney today announced his retirement. He tweeted that he will not be playing for Ger Cunningham's men today, and reiterated his desire to walk away from the inter-county scene in today's Herald.
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
After winning a Leinster championship with Dublin in both codes, Keaney was a big part of Ballyboden's St. Enda's march to the All Ireland football club championship.
He has decided that he has too much on his plate, at this stage in his life to continue committing to Dublin at an inter-county level:
I’ve two young kids and I’m never really at home. I’m self-employed, I’m only after opening another new business, so time-wise it’s hard to juggle it all. And with the commitment you need for inter-county, you need to be giving it 100%.
Realistically, I’m not getting any younger. It’s probably a nice way, to finish it off on a high with the club winning the All-Ireland. And just off the field, things happened last year that I wasn’t really overly comfortable with, and now is probably the right time to step aside. That’s three or four or five reasons, and if you have one reason it’s probably enough to go.
[Herald]
