Updated 9.30am
DUBLIN ARE GEARING up for their Leinster championship opener against Galway on 31 May and continued their preparations with a challenge match win over Tipperary on Sunday night.
An interesting inclusion in the Dublin side was midfielder Darragh O’Connell, who made his debut with Ger Cunningham’s team.
O’Connell is a Kerry native who transferred from his home club of Abbeydorney to Dublin side Cuala this year.
He’s impressed so far in the Dublin senior hurling championship for Cuala in their group stage wins over Ballinteer St John’s and Lucan Sarsfields.
“I thought he did well for his first game in, learning what we’re trying to do and how we play,” remarked Dublin boss Ger Cunningham.
“He did a lot of very good things. He’s comfortable on the ball, shows good levels of support and he’s fit. He came in in good condition and that wouldn’t be an issue as he had a lot work done previously.
“He’s only been with us for a couple of weeks but the lads have made him feel very welcome. It was a good opportunity for us to give him a chance and see where he’s at.”
“I’d love to have him but he’s been in Dublin for the last number of years and commuting up and down,” revealed Kerry boss Eamonn Kelly.
“He’s a cracking hurler and would probably make any intercounty team. He minds himself, doesn’t drink or smoke and is in great condition.
“The way I look at it, if Dublin have 26 on their panel and there are 25 better than him, they’re very strong.”
“Last year, we had the promotion playoff with Offaly in Thurles and Darragh was head and shoulders the best player on view, man of the match. If I had him, I’d feel we’d have a very strong chance of winning the Christy Ring.
“He’s an awful loss to us but I fully understand his reasons for going as well.”
O’Connell was one of Kerry’s leading players when lining out for the Kingdom. He struck 1-9 from wing-forward in their 2011 Christy Ring Cup final win over Wicklow.
His versatility was demonstrated by his appearance on half-back line for Kerry when they lost the 2013 Christy Ring Cup final to Down and he was midfield when they lost last year’s decider against Kildare.
In 2012 O’Connell won a Ryan Cup medal on a Mary Immaculate College side that also included Galway’s Conor Cooney and the Waterford duo of Shane O’Sullivan and Brian O’Halloran.
Additional reporting by Jackie Cahill
