Kettle says others can learn from Dublin’s rise to stardom

Dublin chairman Andy Kettle believes other counties could learn from the capital’s successful transition from hurling pauper to provincial royalty.

Prior to Sunday, the capital had secured four of the previous eight Leinster MHC titles and three of the last six at U21 grade, but the senior success by Anthony Daly’s side ranks as the biggest breakthrough yet.

The county’s burgeoning roll of honour, which also includes the 2011 Division One title, has been drafted in no small part on the back of millions of euro invested in the game by the GAA and Leinster Council.

Kettle and everyone involved in the Dublin renaissance has acknowledged that support time and again but noted that the money funding this revival has been sourced locally as well as provincially and nationally.

“I think ours is a system that other counties could certainly look at,” said Kettle yesterday, “but what must be remembered is that roughly 50% of the coaches in Dublin are funded by the clubs themselves.

“That’s sometimes forgotten.”

Clearly, what happened in Croke Park two days ago cannot be accredited to any one man, team or bank account and the influx of people into the county from elsewhere on the island has been just as beneficial.

“It is hard to know where it would be now if it wasn’t for those people who moved to Dublin from stronger hurling counties and brought their love of the game with them. Tradition means a lot and we didn’t really have one.”

Dublin’s increasing muscle at all grades has contrasted greatly with the struggles experienced by counties such as Offaly and Wexford whose own traditions have been diluted by barren spells which show no sign of ending.

Laois have made considerable strides and have contested a minor and U21 final in the space of 12 months while Carlow and Westmeath have both known better days than heretofore in the recent past as well.

However, it is 13 years and counting now since a county other than Kilkenny or Dublin claimed the province’s minor title and 11 since a side other than that same two finished top of the pile at U21.

Coaches such as George O’Connor in Wexford and Pat Critchley in Laois have performed minor miracles in making sure the game’s gospel continues to be heard but protestations concerning a lack of funds have been consistent outside the Pale.

“The GAA has never been slow in support of projects to help the game and we would like to think that the Leinster Council has always looked to support such schemes and will continue to do so,” said Leinster Council chairman Martin Skelly. “Money is a big part of it but it is not all about money. It is about making the most of the resources available.”

Even in Dublin there is more work to do. For all their success in Leinster, the county has yet to add an All-Ireland title to its haul although Kettle was quick to dispel doubts about the well-being of their underage conveyor belt after early exits for both the minor and U21 sides this summer.

“There was a bit of a glitch this year with both those teams going out earlier than expected but the minors played very well against Kilkenny and then Ballyboden won the Féile over the weekend as well after coming through some very tough competition in Dublin. Eight of this year’s minor starting team are back next year and 10 more are on the panel and it is probably a reflection of how far we have come in the last years that we were so disappointed to lose to Kilkenny.”