Dublin’s hurlers emerge from the shadows
Since the 1950s, the small ball game has been consigned to the shadows in the capital, shadows that became darker with the passage of time thanks in large part to the efforts of Heffo’s Football Army in the 1970s.
Kids on the streets wearing the Dublin colours were doing so out of allegiance to the footballers, but in recent years a growing number are parading around with hurleys in tow.
Last summer, the county finally began to sit up and take notice of its hurlers. In June, the minors shocked everyone but themselves by defeating Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final, seeing off Wexford in the final and claiming the county’s first provincial success at the grade in 22 years.
There have been other advances too. The week before the minor win over Kilkenny, Kilmacud Crokes captured the All-Ireland Féile na nGael Division 1 title in Páirc Uí Chaoimh while, last month, Dublin Colleges won the SHC A All-Ireland.
Even the seniors began to return to an even keel last year with the appointment of Tommy Naughton ushering in an era which saw a number of former stalwarts return to the panel.
“There’s a lot of good work being done in Dublin by the clubs, by underage development squads and by a lot of other people,” says Naughton.
“I don’t know if you could call it a feel-good factor, but the urge is there to be very competitive in the championship this year.”
Dublin secured their ticket back to Division One of the league a few weeks ago by beating Kerry in Thurles, but the clash of Kilkenny and Limerick immediately afterwards left them under no illusion as to the size of the task that lies ahead.
“The step up between our game and the Division One final was frightening,” says captain Philly Brennan.
“It was brilliant to see it at first hand and that’s what we want to be involved in. You’re not going to progress if you’re not playing those teams.”
They begin their campaign tomorrow in Portlaoise against Westmeath. A clash with Kilkenny is on offer for the victors. Dublin may be odds on to take that honour, Naughton refuses to countenance a game against the Cats. Dublin squeezed by Westmeath in the Division Two semi-final earlier this year — and Naughton says they “were the best team we played this year”. Dublin know a battle awaits.
Naughton may be stressing the here and now, but the future has already arrived with three of last year’s minors — Tomas Brady, John McCaffrey and Keith Dunne — handed starting berths tomorrow. When they arrived on the panel, Brennan expected three timid youngsters who would take time to adapt to their surroundings. Instead, he saw three confident kids with Leinster medals who were used to beating their rivals instead of bowing to them.
“They’ve done brilliantly,” says Naughton.
“What people have to remember is that it is a big step from minor up to senior and all three of these lads have managed that well so far.”
The hope is that they will be the first three of many.
