Healy calls for Dublin hurling shake-up

HURLING in Dublin faces the threat of oblivion unless a radically different approach is adopted to the promotion of the game in the county.

That’s the stark choice facing administrators and players alike as the County Board and the clubs respond to the promptings of Dublin Director of Hurling, Diarmuid Healy.

Yesterday, the man who inspired Offaly’s breakthrough in 1981 and also coached successfully in his native Kilkenny argued that the problems they face are not insurmountable and that he is optimistic that the game can be regenerated.

He also expressed confidence that a new county manager will be appointed over the next few weeks.

Mr. Healy was one of a number of high-profile coaches who contributed to a very successful seminar in Croke Park at the weekend which was attended by over 400 people. The others were Donal O’Grady, Nicky English, Brian Cody and Liam Griffin.

The thrust of Healy’s contribution was that a radical change was needed in the Dublin mindset regarding the whole approach to Dublin hurling. Specifically, he appealed to coaches throughout the city to “get away from the futility and drudgery” of isolated physical training and to focus on fitness through skill performance.

Recently he presented a strategic plan to the County Board entitled - Dublin Hurling - Golden Opportunity or Oblivion - which points to a “massive wave of enthusiasm” for hurling in the capital. And he has warned that if the challenge isn’t met, the enthusiasm would turn to frustration, the available pool of talent would be disappear and ‘the Golden Opportunity’ would be lost forever.

As a start, he wants fixtures running from the beginning of April through the summer to the end of October - for all age groups.

“Last year the minor championship lasted for about five weeks around March and April. It meant that from April on, minors had no hurling in Dublin last year, which was absolutely crazy,’’ he commented.

“The Dublin Hurling Review Group drew up a plan in which they stated clearly that they want to bring Dublin hurling to the top. My argument is that, if that’s the case they have to spend more time playing the game. The dual player is ‘out’ at inter-county level at all age groups. They cannot ‘dip’ in and out of hurling. It’s a game you have to spend every day at,’’ he added.

Looking ahead to the implementation of the Strategic Review Committee report, Mr. Healy stressed the absolute importance of coaches being appointed whose sole responsibility would be in the area of hurling promotion.

“I don’t know what is going to come out of the SRC, but unless we get dedicated hurling people, it’s a waste of time. Having dual coaches and dual co-ordinators is no use to hurling. If the plan is to gain anything from the SRC it has to be appointments solely for hurling. We would have no problem in recruiting the people. But, the SRC must be prepared to fund dedicated hurling people not dual people.

“At the moment, all the appointments by the Leinster Council for coaches in Dublin and so on have been for dual coaches. That’s no use to hurling, because it’s so specialised and totally different. What we need are people appointed to look after hurling - and hurling only."

Saying he was optimistic about the future, Mr. Healy said the huge turn-out at the seminar was ‘the beginning of a revolution’ in Dublin hurling.