ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE:NOBODY EVEN mentioned the 65 years because it was obvious what making the hurling league final would mean to Anthony Daly and the Dublin hurlers. History has nothing to do with it: Dublin have already produced their best league campaign in a long time, and in that regard making the final would be just reward.
What is certain is Dublin still have to earn it, by beating Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh – and hoping Waterford help them out too by beating Galway at Walsh Park. That would most likely set up a Dublin v Kilkenny showdown, probably in Thurles, and with that all references to 1946 could finally be consigned to the past.
“What would disappoint is if we go down to Cork and don’t perform,” said Daly. “What else can I do? Maybe send Davy Fitz the odd text! We just have to try and look after our own end of it, and try to bring a result. If things do go well, we’ll give a quick shout to whoever will be listening in (in Waterford). But it would be a great boost to get to it.”
Not that Davy Fitzgerald will only be thinking of his former Clare captain and manager: if Waterford beat Galway, and Dublin and Tipperary lose, Waterford can also make the final (as indeed can Tipperary, if they beat Wexford, and Galway and Dublin both lose).
In other words there is still plenty to play for, with Cork actually the only team in Division One with nothing specific to target – as relegation will be decided between Offaly and Wexford.
Daly still expects a perfectly honest contest in Cork. Sunday marks their last competitive match until the championship, when they face-off, once more, against All-Ireland champions Tipperary on May 29th: “Their next match for sure now is the Tipp match,” said Daly, “so they’ll want to finish on a high. But it is what it is, Cork in Cork. A lot of commentators have written off Cork, way too prematurely. You look at a Cork junior team winning an All-Ireland. An intermediate Cork team winning an All-Ireland.
“It wouldn’t have been far fetched that their senior club had won an All-Ireland. Everyone said Tipp walked away with the AllIreland Under-21 last year, but they forget the first round went to extra-time against Cork. Hurlers grow on trees down there, as they say. I think they’re serious dark horses for the year.”
But having beaten Tipperary, Offaly and Wexford, and drawing with Waterford and Kilkenny, Dublin won’t fear Cork. Daly also expects Dublin to be that bit sharper on Sunday too, given they spent five days warm-weather training in Portugal since drawing with Kilkenny in the last round, on April 2nd.
“It was fantastic. The weather was good, the pitch was fantastic. Proper GAA goals and nets behind the goals. The whole thing has evolved. It’s great to be together for the week and get a whole lot done. After the Kilkenny game people were saying we should have been a fair bit more ahead at half-time, but there are two types of draws. The one where you come from behind is that bit more uplifting. Yeah, that first morning training was easier. There was a bit more of a buzz having come from behind.
“But we’re realistic. We know Kilkenny will be a different proposition in the championship but I hope we would be a bit of a different proposition in the championship as well.”
In the meantime Dublin still have their share of injury problems. Liam Rushe looks set to miss out with a shoulder injury sustained while training in Portugal, and with Stephen Hiney gone for the season with a cruciate tear, Daly is still waiting on a few more first-choice players: “We’ve had our scatter of injuries. But a lot of other teams have had them too and in actual fact it has nearly been a blessing in disguise.
“It meant the likes of Daire Plunkett Paul Schutte and Ronan Walsh got a good chance against Kilkenny. Still, you would rather have everyone available.
“Maurice O’Brien would be the nearest to match fitness. He’s had a couple of good weeks training but no matches apart from the matches with ourselves. David Treacy is coming now. He played a bit during the week. Alan McCrabbe is nearly up to trying out in a match. We’ll play a match in training tomorrow night and include as many of them as we can. But we’ll have 26 men togged.”
Win or lose on Sunday, what Daly would also like is the return of the league semi-finals, which is one of the motions coming to GAA Congress this weekend.
“Semi-final weekend was always a big day out. It was similar to championship day, and good preparation for the championship. Coming from where we’re coming from, the more big days the better.
“I would say two up and two down would be fairer, with the top four or the top three going into the semi-finals. You should have to earn to be in Division One.”
Dublin for sure have earned that already.
