Conal Keaney retires after stellar intercounty dual career

Conal Keaney has brought the curtain down on a brilliant intercounty career, in both codes of hurling and football, that spanned 2001 to 2015 at senior level alone.

The Ballyboden St Enda's (33) star began his senior intercounty days in 2001 when making his senior hurling championship debut in the Leinster SHC against Laois during his Leaving Cert.

Conal served hurling for three years at senior level before switching codes to football for seven summers during which time he helped Dublin to win five Leinster senior football championships.

He concluded his superb service to Dublin GAA by playing the past five seasons with the hurlers during which time he played a central role in Dublin capturing the NHL Division 1 title in 2011, their first since 1939, and two years later Anthony Daly's Dubs defeated Galway in the Leinster SHC final, having toppled Kilkenny in a titanic semi-final that went to a replay, to secure their first provincial title since 1961.

Conal also represented Leinster in both hurling and football at interprovincial level.

At underage level Conal's influence was equally inspirational as he was part of a historic Dublin U21 football team in 2003, who captained by Alan Brogan, won the All-Ireland U21FC title for the first time.

In hurling he was a key figure on the Combined Dublin Colleges team that tasted Leinster Schools SHC 'A' glory in 2001 - beating the famed St Kieran's of Kilkenny in an epic Leinster semi-final in Parnell Park that went to extra-time.

Conal cites family commitments and the focus on his two business ventures, Phoenix Park Bikes and CP Adventure; and the passage of time as the principle reasons for his decision. 

“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 100pc.".

Conal will continue to play for Ballyboden St Enda's with whom he recently won an All-Ireland club SFC title.