LEINSTER UNDER-21 HURLING FINAL:DUBLIN SENIOR hurling manager Anthony Daly has criticised football manager Pat Gilroy's decision to withdraw dual star Rory O'Carroll from tomorrow night's Leinster Under-21 hurling final.

Gilroy told the Kilmacud Crokes star any decision to play for the hurlers would jeopardise his chances of featuring against Armagh in next Saturday’s AllIreland senior football qualifier.

O’Carroll felt he was left with no option but to opt out of the under-21 showdown against Wexford at Parnell Park – a move which leaves manager Richard Stakelum without his centre back.

O’Carroll was outstanding in the 0-17 to 0-12 semi-final victory against Kilkenny on June 23rd.

Gilroy argued O’Carroll lining out tomorrow evening would have left him drained for the Armagh match but Daly dismissed that argument and pointed out four other under-21 players will also be in action for the senior hurlers next Saturday. Liam Rushe, Oisín Gough, Peter Kelly and David Treacy will backbone the under-21s challenge before playing a key role against Antrim as Dublin look to progress to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.

An irate Daly said: “I think it’s unbelievable. We’ll have four guys playing in the under-21 match and again next Saturday. The football management’s point of view is it’s too much to ask him to play on Wednesday and again on Saturday but he’s a 20-year-old, fit, young fella. Sixty minutes hurling on Wednesday is not going to make him unavailable for Saturday.

“It’s a joke. Look at how fellas last in the World Cup with matches every three or four days – how do they last on the Lions tour when they play twice a week?

“It’s rubbish. It just seems to me some people in Dublin football are more worried about Dublin hurling than Armagh.”