Trip down south only for diehard Dublin fans

It would be a lot to expect from Dublin hurlers to come away from Páirc Uí Chaoimh with anything more than pride intact, writes Gavin Cummiskey

"I think it's a disgrace that the weaker counties don't get home advantage. This is how to promote hurling GAA style. I mean a few plonkers like myself might travel, but no one else will and why should they for a foregone conclusion. A complete total and utter joke." - A loyal Dublin hurling fan vents in an online forum

THE PROBLEM with being down on one knee is it makes you susceptible to being bowled over entirely. Dublin hurling has suffered three heavy blows recently and it may well degenerate further this Saturday in, of all places, Páirc Uí Chaoimh against a Cork team playing for their hurling existence.

First off, the minors failed to defend the Leinster title and this was followed by some naive tactics from the seniors in the semi-final replay defeat to Wexford. Then, to top it all off, eight of this team were obliterated by Kilkenny in the under-21 semi-final at Parnell Park.

That game was a horror show. Granted, many players were fatigued after the four-day turnaround but that didn't hamper Tomás Brady who seemed to burn up the most energy over the two games.

There was no excuse really. Kilkenny were a far superior team with DJ Carey's young cousin Richie Hogan shredding the Dublin defence in a fine display. Hogan remains some way down the queue for a starting berth in Brian Cody's line-up.

"Well, this is the level they must reach at intercounty hurling," says senior manager Tommy Naughton, who is now charged with lifting the panel's spirits ahead of the most daunting journey south. That Tipperary last month scalped Cork in their own hurling citadel for the first time in 85 years makes the chances of a surprise seem even more remote.

"Yes, that was a bad week for Dublin hurling," Naughton continued. "For the last number of years there was no expectation. This year we had expectations of reaching a senior provincial final. Many a year there such defeats would go practically unnoticed, but we were Leinster champions at minor and under-21."

Everything else has been said already - the work at juvenile level right across the capital must still be highly commended. Naughton noted the current supply of hurlers from underage will continue but "it will also continue in Kilkenny and Wexford".

The growing talk of a Dublin hurling revolution has been shelved by the current malaise. The quality has undoubtedly improved but see what happened to the senior teams' conquerors, Wexford, in last Sunday's Leinster hurling final.

"This team wanted to be part of the championship and they were desperately disappointed not to make the provincial final but they have started to pick it up again."

So lessons are being learned? "I said it at the time that Wexford were just that bit cuter than us when it came to possession. We then went for goals a bit early when we could have picked off scores. But then that is all hindsight."

At least the new core of the team should be around for the foreseeable? "You just don't know. Teams change from year to year but, yes, the core should be there for a while yet."

The GAA marketing machine could have cranked into gear with Dublin in a Leinster hurling final but instead The Friends of Dublin Hurling will struggle to fill supporter coaches departing from Connolly Station at 10am on Saturday morning.

It's a 13-hour round trip for the genuine faithful or self-christened "plonkers" who are unwavering in the belief that their day will come.