'Dotsy' waiting and hoping

'Dotsy' has been out with a back problem since June, one that required off-season surgery to remove the prolapsed part of a disc.

The veteran forward hasn't given up on a swansong campaign in blue, but the clock is ticking.

He has been working away on his rehab with Dublin physio Eamon O'Reilly and has resumed running. Last week he even played a challenge match in goals for the St Mark's junior hurlers.

But it has been a slow recovery process and some symptoms remain, even if his back is "improving all the time."

With Dublin due to open their Leinster SHC campaign against Galway in Tullamore on May 28, O'Callaghan reckons he would need to be able to resume collective training at the same time that the Cuala crew return from their All-Ireland club adventure.

Otherwise he may have to call time on his county ambitions.

"I'd nearly be targeting going in with them. That would be my own target," he said. "Ideally, as the league finishes, I'd want to be really back in full training with the group. If I couldn't make that, I'd step away."