Kilkenny rules himself out of contention for a hurling return

CIARÁN KILKENNY, once one of the best young hurlers in Dublin, has confirmed that he will probably never play at senior level for the county. Kilkenny has developed into one of the footballers’ most important players as they prepare to challenge for four All-Ireland titles in a row. But he was also a terrific underage hurler and scored 1-3 in the 2011 All-Ireland minor final against Galway. That Dublin team contained Eric Lowndes, Emmet Ó Conghaile, Conor McHugh and Cormac Costello, all of whom are also now part of the senior football panel alongside Kilkenny. Anthony Daly attempted to coax Kilkenny into the hurling set-up for the 2013 season though admitted at the time that he couldn’t get hold of him. Kilkenny was coy when asked if Pat Gilroy, the new Dublin hurling manager, had asked him to consider switching codes over winter, responding, ‘No, generally not, no’. But the talented 24-yearold was direct on the issue of whether he could possibly turn his back on the footballers at this stage and pick up a hurley again. ‘This is my seventh year with the footballers, I’m completely immersed with this group now,’ said Kilkenny. ‘I’d still follow the Dublin hurlers, but if there’s any way I can help out with the local club hurlers, then I’ll do that and I still love togging out with the club because it’s something new and fresh. So I’ll do that for the club but I’m focused on football at this stage.’ Meanwhile, Kilkenny said he’s in the dark regarding Diarmuid Connolly’s plans for the summer. Officially, the five-time All-Ireland medallist is ‘resting’ and not involved with the panel. ‘Diarmuid has been a serious footballer for Dublin over the last few years, and he’d be a serious addition to the team,’ said Kilkenny. “But all we can really do is just do the best we can with the players we have available to us.’