'Munster teams put on a pedestal compared to Leinster teams': Dublin must be 'fearless' against Clare says Gibbons

FEARLESS: Dublin's Eddie Gibbons poses for a portrait during the launch of the 2026 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship at Blarney Castle. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Dublin hurling goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons has said they must go “fearless” into the All-Ireland series given the “pedestal” Munster teams are justifiably put on compared to their Leinster counterparts.

The Dubs face Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday week, what will be their third meeting of the year after the Banner triumphed by two and three-point margins in the Division 1B round-robin and final clashes.

It was at this very quarter-final stage 12 months ago where the 14 men of Dublin stunned Limerick at GAA HQ. The same fearless approach will be employed ahead of this latest championship clash with Munster opposition.

“You can’t really hold fear going into these games. A lot of the Munster teams be put on a pedestal compared to the Leinster teams, but you have to go in fearless, and it is definitely possible,” said Dublin shot-stopper Gibbons at Monday’s All-Ireland SHC launch.

“We were disappointed to lose the League final to Clare and the Leinster final there at the weekend, two tough losses, but obviously there is another opportunity against Clare in about 10 days’ time, so it is a good opportunity to put things right.”

Asked about his pedestal comment later on in the launch, Gibbons said there is justification to that elevated view of Munster teams.

“Probably rightly so, in some ways. The Munster championship is hugely competitive, but I think you saw this year, no one would have said Offaly were going to come out of the Leinster Championship, and Kilkenny didn't come out. So, there's always kind of changes there, and it just shows how competitive Leinster is.”

Pupils of Scoil Chroí Íosa, Blarney, during an interview session with, from left, Eddie Gibbons of Dublin, Aaron Niland of Galway and Killian Sampson of Offaly. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Following a Leinster round-robin where Dublin recorded for the first-time victories over Galway, Kilkenny, and Wexford in the same championship, there was ultimate disappointment with how they acquitted themselves in the provincial decider.

Not a single goal was conceded during those three round-robin victories and when you factor in the solitary green flag Kildare took them for, Dublin went four consecutive games and five hours of hurling conceding just one goal.

The four Galway got in for on Saturday matched the four Offaly registered on the opening weekend of championship in mid-April.

“There was definitely an issue there last year, and you could kind of even see it against Galway. You're not going to win many games conceding that much. We did put a lot of work into our shape and structure at the back. And in fairness, you could see that work earlier in the championship. But I was disappointed to see us concede four at the weekend,” Gibbons added.

“The initial mood was huge disappointment. We put a lot of work into trying to win the Leinster Championship.”