Keaney opts for hurling

EXCLUSIVE By Conor McKeon

CONAL Keaney has handed Anthony Daly a massive boost by opting to play hurling with Dublin this year.

Keaney will train with the hurlers for the first time tonight. Keaney last hurled for Dublin in 2004 but has since devoted his inter-county loyalties to the footballers, accumulating five Leinster medals and playing in three All-Ireland semi-finals in that time.

However, he fell out of favour with Pat Gilroy last summer and started all of Dublin's post Leinster outings from the bench, prompting the now customary annual speculation about his future.

The Ballyboden St Enda's man met separately with Daly and Gilroy in recent months and with both squads back in training since Tuesday, pledged to give his decision by the end of the week.

Last night he contacted both managers to inform them of his decision to row in with the hurlers for 2011.

The move represents a significant coup for the hurlers, despite the fact that he has not played at inter-county level for six years.

Daly, who has pursued Keaney prior to each of the last three seasons, described his decision as "great news" and predicted that Keaney would prove "a huge addition to the squad".