Harrington sets 2015 final target for Dublin

DUBLIN chairman Gerry Harrington wants to see the county contest an All-Ireland SHC final by 2015.

Harrington has set down the target after taking great encouragement from Sunday’s creditable six-point defeat to Kilkenny in the Leinster decider.

Reaching a first senior provincial hurling final since 1991 is the latest step in Dublin’s progression following the impressive underage success of recent years. And now Harrington is adamant that Dublin will not rest on their laurels.

Harrington said: “I would hope that after Sunday, the lads know that they can hurl with the best. I think that the All-Ireland quarter-final will be our biggest test as the lads attempt to bounce back from the Leinster final defeat.

“As Anthony Daly said himself, a few mistakes cost us here and there but that can happen with a wet ball and bad conditions. But the lads will learn from Sunday and push on from there. With the right draw in the quarter-finals, who knows? Certainly, reaching an All-Ireland semi-final would be a fantastic achievement.”

Outlining longer-term goals, Harrington added: “I would certainly say with the structures we now have in place and the talent coming through, within two to three years we should be looking at a Leinster senior title.

“This year marked a big breakthrough and we can take it on to another stage, which would be to go out with more belief and determination to win the Leinster final next year.”

Dublin have not contested an All-Ireland senior hurling final since 1961 and Harrington said: “An All-Ireland title is a little bit further on but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t get there by 2015.”