Bringing a winning mentality to Dublin

ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL:

Eleven students or graduates are in the Dublin panel with six — Stephen Cluxton, Jonny Cooper, James McCarthy, Paul Flynn, Bernard Brogan and Paddy Andrews — expected to start.

On the other side, there is goalkeeper Rob Hennelly. Three of the Mayo minor side on Sunday are also enrolled in DCU for the year ahead — Seamus Cunniffe, Conor Loftus and Diarmuid O’Connor, younger brother of Cillian.

No other third level institution has made such an indelible impression on All-Ireland final day as DCU. And that’s without mentioning the university’s GAA academy director, Michael Kennedy, who is a selector of Jim Gavin’s. The Tyrone native has been a part of Dublin’s backroom teams going back several years and now works with the forwards.

Their record of three Sigerson Cup titles in the last eight years is just as impressive as their contribution on Sunday, although their success has drawn negative attention.

Professor Niall Moyna said it resulted in Cork’s Aidan Walsh being unable as yet to line out for DCU while former Dublin manager Pat Gilroy told the university to ignore the begrudgers.

“Irrespective of what college team or any team it is, everyone looks in with one eye of jealousy and says ‘what are they doing differently?’” says Kennedy.

“What I found over the last couple of years is other universities, coaches and inter-county managers are contacting us and opening up a dialogue and trying to find out what we’re doing. What is this magic potion that we’re using because there are so many players developing under our guidance and ultimately making an inter-county career.

“More and more of that’s happening now. I would get an average of five to 10 phone calls a week in that regard. What we’re encouraging more and more is for inter-county teams to come in and we’ll deliver our coaching sessions.

“For instance, we had the Sligo minors and U16s in. We’ve had Fermanagh in. We’re looking to give that information out there. It’s an open book. There is no hidden agenda behind it. We’ve nothing to hide.”

Kennedy believes DCU can provide inter-county players with the type of training during the college months that would free them from driving long distances.

“I’m not saying stopping the travelling but maybe minimise it, instead of players having to travel two or three hours, do a session and then come back.

“I think that’s a big factor in the success of Dublin at underage. I was involved with the Dublin U21s from 2010 to 2012 and our mantra was less is more. The relationship between the Dublin management and DCU was very open and there was no pressure whatsoever on the players. If the players in DCU were doing something, Dublin respected that.”

Kennedy wouldn’t describe DCU as a feeder university for inter-county football teams but more a place where a dedication to best practice ensures players can further their education in tandem with their sporting careers.

It’s been the philosophy of DCU president Brian MacCraith that sport and education complement each other. Support from staff on the Glasnevin campus towards players is extensive, with extra grinds provided if necessary.

“Our big thing is to gain study-life balance. That’s extremely importance to us. We try to minimise what they’re doing on the field. Most of the time, they have one field session with us and maybe one gym session or not. We’re more about rest and recovery.”

There’s little doubt just how much of an influence third-level football is having on inter-county careers now. Kennedy has noticed how the gap between the two levels has narrowed.

“Looking at it nationally, most inter-county managers are looking at what universities are doing and they can see the development of players. The big thing now that is becoming noticeable is how younger players are able to perform to such a high level, even at freshers level. A lot of managers and coaches are attending these games because they have proven they can step up to senior level.”

Kennedy sees his work with DCU and Dublin’s footballers as a two-way street. “I’m continuing to bring best practice back into DCU and saying ‘let’s try that’ then why can’t we give it out to other counties? Obviously, I’ve a great relationship with the staff here and with my own boss. We’ve a president, Brian MacCraith, who has a huge vision and passion for sport, every factor in sport, and we all happily fall in line with that.

“Provided the Dublin job didn’t interfere with me here, he didn’t have an issue with it. And Jim has said that DCU always comes first and if you have to attend matches, go to them. It’s worked a dream.”

As he prepared for Dublin training on Wednesday, it was merely a case of dotting I’s and crossing T’s.

“All the work is done and it’s just a case of keeping them relaxed and focused on the game ahead.”