Sport

Carey changes mind

Kilkenny's county board will put structures in place to help protect DJ Carey from excessive demands now that he has reversed…

By SEAN MORAN
Sat Mar 21 1998 - 00:00

Kilkenny's county board will put structures in place to help protect DJ Carey from excessive demands now that he has reversed his decision to retire from hurling. As the player flew out to the US for a family holiday, the Kilkenny County Board released the news which brings to an end Carey's six-week retirement.

He will return to the country in 10 days and resume training with the county team which started the NHL badly with defeat in Cork.

Carey will not be available until the fourth match of the campaign, but, most importantly for Kilkenny, will be available for the opening championship match against Dublin on May 31st.

It was no secret that the constant pressure on Carey to make personal appearances around the country to promote hurling was a major factor in his original decision to retire.

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According to county secretary Pat Dunphy: "He said himself that the over-exposure was getting to him and that he hadn't time to be with his family and that it was getting the better of him. There will be steps taken by the county board to protect him, although a lot will come down to himself and his deciding what he wants to do."

Dunphy also said the decision had followed "ongoing communication" with the player since he had announced his retirement. "We were in touch a couple of times a week. It was never off our agenda," he said.

Dunphy also spoke of the various "strands" behind the original decision. "I'd say it was down to a combination of things, difficulties within the club, the extraordinary demands on his time, but all small enough things that could be sorted out."

There had been rumours of tension in Carey's club, Young Irelands, following last year's loss of the county final and the dropping of his brother from the team - although Carey himself denied that club matters had been a factor in his decision. He is now expected to line out for the club on the April 5th resumption of the county senior hurling league.

Kilkenny manager Kevin Fennelly wasn't available for comment, but the county management were, according to a source, "happy that he's back".