DAVID O’CALLAGHAN HAS no regrets at being involved in Dublin’s hurling league opener next Saturday night instead of Ballyboden St Enda’s All-Ireland senior club football semi-final.

Next Saturday Dublin face Tipperary in Semple Stadium at 7pm while Ballyboden St-Enda’s meet Clonmel Commercials in O’Moore Park at 4.30pm.

O’Callaghan came on as a substitute when Ballyboden saw off St Vincent’s in last November’s Dublin county senior football final after transferring to the club at the start of last season from his native St Mark’s.

But having already planned to go travelling in North America, O’Callaghan opted out of the squad after that game and did not feature in Ballyboden’s AIB Leinster club championship campaign.

O’Callaghan has no qualms with deciding to head to Thurles this Saturday instead of Portlaoise. Linking up with the panel after their Leinster campaign would not have sat right with him.

“I had a great couple of weeks with them last year and I managed to see a bit of action in the latter stages in the Dublin county (championship),” revealed O’Callaghan.

Ballyboden St-Enda's players savour their Dublin county final win. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

“But I made a decision to do a bit of travelling. I just informed the management the night of the county final that I would be going away.

“So there was no issue. They’re great lads and there’s a great setup there. I suppose, I wouldn’t have felt right about waltzing back in there in January.

“I decided I’d come back and just focus on Dublin really. I spoke to Andy (McEntee – Ballyboden manager).

Ballyboden St-Enda's boss Andy McEntee Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

“I don’t want to go too much into it. The option was there. But I had just made the decision that I was going to come back in hurling.”

“There was always a good chance they were going to go on and win Leinster. I had made a decision on a personal level. I had a little opportunity to do a bit of travelling, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Ballyboden St-Enda's players celebrating their Leinster final win Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

O’Callaghan believes Ballyboden will be in good shape to compete on Saturday despite the long hiatus since their Leinster final win.

“It’s tough. Obviously you’ve the Christmas break there and then you’ve January and you’re trying to gear up for an All-Ireland semi-final in February.

“But Andy McEntee is a top, top manager and has a great team with him so I’m sure he’ll have the team in good shape for Saturday.”

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