Ger Cunningham aims to lift Dublin hurling up another level

Ger Cunningham has been appointed to bring Dublin “the extra five per cent of the way” to an All-Ireland, according to county chairman Andy Kettle.

The former Cork goalkeeper was introduced to the media on Friday afternoon in Parnell Park, where he also announced that his back-room team former Tipperary captain Tommy Dunne, former Dublin under-21 and minor manager Shay Boland and former Kilmacud Crokes manager Gearóid Ó Riain.

Cunningham, 53, replaces Anthony Daly and has been given a three-year term. He says he is comfortable with any level of expectation that might come with the job.

“I’m delighted to be here. There’s no pressure. I think Dublin have come on huge strides in the last six years and I’m going to try and build and work on what Anthony and his team achieved, it was phenomenal work, and we’ll be trying to bring it to the next level.

“I got approached from Andy as to whether I’d be interested in considering the job, and once we spoke he made a big impression. But he didn’t have to sell it, really, Dublin hurling is at a really competitive level and in reality it was an easy decision and I’m really looking forward to it.

“With any decision you have to consider various factors – family at home, the work situation – but they’ve been fully supportive and I do some work in Dublin anyway and there’s a good road and rail network. So I’m looking forward to spending time with the hurlers.”

Cunningham touched only briefly on the dual player issue, pointing out that the best way for him to attract some of the best players to join up with the hurlers rather than the footballers is to make his team contenders for silverware.

“Our job, really, is to get the best hurling team on the pitch for Dublin. There are some very good hurlers playing football and we’ll have to create a situation where if those guys want to play hurling, we want to play our best team and give them an opportunity.”