CROKES AND CUALA PRIMED FOR SHC DECIDER

Saturday’s Dublin SHC final between Kilmacud Crokes and Cuala in Parnell Park (3.0) has added resonance for Crokes’ Ryan O’Dwyer.

It will be exactly a year to the day on Saturday that he was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Bermingham.

Ryan will bring his trademark intensity and ‘braveheart’ dynamism to Saturday’s county decider which promises to be a highly entertaining contest.

“Like I said, I’m very lucky with how things have worked out. I didn’t know what was happening a few weeks after,” says the Crokes forward in reference to the attack unprovoked outside a nightclub in Birmingham which left him very seriously injured.

“It would mean a lot to win it at any stage. I suppose if we do win I’ll look back and see the road I’ve traveled and say, ‘Jeez, I’m a stubborn man’,” as it was feared then that he might never play again.

The winners of this southside derby will go forward to represent Dublin in the AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final against recently crowned Laois champions, Borris-Kilcotton, on Sunday, November 6 in Parnell Park.

Regardless of Saturday’s result Ryan is determined to be a central part of Dublin senior hurling’s plans in 2017.

“I don’t like people asking me that, I still consider myself young,” laughs Ryan.

“You get to an age where you say I’m going to go year by year now.

“And yeah I’m going to give it 100 per cent for the year coming and hopefully I stay injury free.

“If Ger (Cunningham) wants me I’ll definitely be giving it everything I can.”