Ballyboden St Enda’s boss Joe Fortune has confirmed veteran talisman Conal Keaney is good to go – for club and county.
Keaney, 38 in September, is poised to lead the line for Boden in Sunday’s heavyweight Dublin SHC encounter with Kilmacud Crokes. It’s a repeat of the 2018 final which Boden won after a replay thanks in part to Keaney’s 0-4 from play.
The dual star lined out for the Boden footballers in the All-Ireland club semi-finals in January but didn’t feature for Dublin in the National Hurling League.
Keaney said in April he’d chatted “over and back” with Dubs boss Mattie Kenny but “couldn’t give him a definite answer” on when he’d return.
A new addition to the family left business owner Keaney – who nursed a hamstring strain over winter – with fresh commitments but Fortune revealed he’s available for club and county.
He said: “Conal is good to go. I think had things been OK and there not been any shutdown, he’d have been OK a few months back but the couple of extra months to rehab and train away will no doubt help.
“He’s a real leader of that team, he sets high standards but we’re lucky that way.”
Asked specifically if Keaney is committed to playing for Dublin later this year, Wexford man Fortune nodded: “He is.”
Fortune reported a full squad for Sunday’s south-Dublin derby date but said he isn’t too sure exactly how things will go.
The former Dublin under-21 manager explained: “It’s been a very short window to get ready, probably two and a half weeks of contact training.
“I suppose at around half past four on Sunday we’ll find out if we did our jobs well.”
