Dublin aiming to build on momentum
For donkey’s years, the flow of personnel between the two inter-county squads had been one-way traffic but there were tentative suggestions of a more equal cross-pollination over the winter months.
Shane Ryan spread the first seed by handing in his P45 to Pat Gilroy and crossing the threshold to join the hurlers and the word on the street was that Conal Keaney, the Prodigal Son, was about to follow suit.
The footballers might have won another provincial title in 2009 but there was no doubting which side was gaining in momentum last summer and here now was further proof of that forward march.
Or so it seemed.
Keaney never swapped his allegiances. Not only that, but his decision to throw in his lot with the footballers was echoed by Ross O’Carroll, another huge prospect who had always been considered a hurler first and foremost.
David O’Callaghan can see both sides of the story. ‘Dotsy’ was another of hurling’s great blue hopes who threw his lot in with the footballers, but he returned to the small ball code after two seasons last year.
“I suppose growing up, Conal, and even Paul Griffin were on the colleges team with me that won Leinster,” he says. “Two great hurlers. It would have been a good boost but every individual has their choice to make.
“If they’re being wanted by Pat and being wanted by Anthony it’s up to the individual then and you have to respect that decision. I suppose either way they’re still out there representing Dublin.”
Clearly, for all their difficulties in translating provincial success into national glory, the glamour of the footballers continues to seduce the wavering dual star in Dublin and that is aped in the stands.
Gilroy fielded a third, possibly even a fourth-string team in the O’Byrne Cup this month but that was still enough to attract impressive crowds to Parnell Park while an estimated 7,000 saw Wednesday’s replay defeat to Meath in Navan.
Contrast that with the hurlers whose competitive bow against NUIG in the Walsh Cup today will be in the Naomh Mearnog club grounds in Portmarnock – hardly the most spectator-friendly of venues.
That said, much the same is happening elsewhere in the competition. Wexford and UCD meet tomorrow in Gorey, Laois and Galway in Rathdowney. Only Offaly and Kilkenny, who meet in Tullamore, will utilise a county ground.
Brian Cody’s men have won this tournament in four of the last five seasons and Dublin may well contest the final with them given the fact that they are in the opposite side of the draw to the All-Ireland champions and Galway.
Just as they were in Leinster year in fact when they reached a first final in 18 years and ended the year with Alan McCrabbe claiming their first All Star award since Brian McMahon managed it in 1990.
“We’ll be no surprise package this year,” says McCrabbe. “Getting to a Leinster final last year was a big thing and we want to push on from that. The pressure will build on us coming up to the championship because people will expect more from us. That’s what you want. We want the pressure and to be up there playing against the best teams.”
As things stand, progress in 2010 would involve simply standing still as it would entail defeating Kilkenny just to reach the provincial decider again this time around.
Whatever about the Walsh Cup, the counties will certainly meet in the National League, in Parnell Park in late March, one of four home games Dublin have been afforded by the fixture list this season.
It was last spring when Dublin first signposted their intentions for the season by beating (a weakened) Cork, Galway, Waterford, drawing with Clare and losing to Tipperary and Kilkenny by just two points.
“We want to push it on again this year,” says McCrabbe.
“Tipp and Kilkenny are there on the top at the moment. We wouldn’t be too far off, but would want to be catching up. That’s why we’ll be targeting the league this year, pushing up beside them.”
The inevitable question is what would constitute a successful 2010 for the Dublin hurlers? “I suppose winning something,” O’Callaghan reasons.
“We got to a Leinster final last year and were huge underdogs as well but we showed we’re able to compete at that level. Without a doubt we made steady progress last year. It’s important we don’t stand still and we keep driving on.”
DUBLIN (SH v NUIG): G Maguire; M May, C Hennebry, R Trainor; D Byrne, R Fallon, M O’Brien; J McCaffrey, G O’Meara; D Curtin, S Ryan, J Kelly; P Carton, K Flynn, A McCrabbe. Subs: A Nolan, S O’Sullivan, N Corcoran, S Hiney, M Carton, S Lambert, T Sweeney, A McEnerney and K O’Loughlin.
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