IT HAS BEEN a challenging time for the Dublin hurlers.
Rumours of unrest have surrounded them throughout the season, amidst a major panel overhaul which saw several seasoned campaigners omitted from the cause.
Former captain Johnny McCaffrey, Peter Kelly, forward Paul Ryan, Daire Plunkett, Niall Corcoran and Glenn Whelan were all among those who were excluded, while other notable players have withdrawn from the squad for different reasons.
Manager Ger Cunningham has endeavored to place a heightened emphasis on youth this year, but his vision has triggered a frosty reaction, with many feeling that the experienced players still have something to contribute.
The sense of uncertainty culminated in a 14-point defeat to Allianz Division 1 hurling league champions Galway in the Leinster SHC at the end of May.
Former Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity – a five-time senior All-Ireland winner with his county — was drafted in as a goalkeeping coach with the Dublin hurlers this year.
Herity says that the group is happy in what he described as a professional set-up, and insists that any negative talk about the team is coming from outside the camp.
“From what I’ve seen within the camp has been as good as I’ve ever been part of,” he told The42.
“You’ve got an extremely strong panel of players that’s littered with very talented players coming through.
“The management staff that has been put together behind the scene has been incredible and the set-up has been incredible as far as I can see.
“It really couldn’t be anymore professional for a senior inter-county set-up.
“It is disappointing when things didn’t go to plan (against Galway) but I would have thought during the match — especially in the first half — that some slightly wayward shooting had Dublin in a position where they easily could have been up, a lot closer or even in front heading into half-time the way they played against Galway.
“The amount of effort these lads are putting in, they’re training extremely well and everything that’s going on, is extremely positive within the group.
“It’s unfortunate but they’ve a month to regroup.
“I honestly have not seen one negative vibe within the dressing room all year. It’s an extremely happy camp, it’s a young, vibrant, and extremely confident camp.”
In addition to working with the Dublin hurlers, Herity is also the manager of the Dublin senior camogie team.
And that is his primary focus.
He was part of the management ticket last season, and when an opening emerged for the role of manager, he put himself forward for the job.
He was playing with his club Dunnamaggin at the time, but due to travel pressures, he decided to withdraw from the squad and fully dedicate himself to his duties as the camogie manager.
The All-Ireland camogie championship commences this weekend, with Dublin facing Clare in their opening game on 10 June.
They struggled during the league campaign, earning just one win from five outings against Wexford.
They suffered a 2-14 0-04 defeat to All-Ireland champions Kilkenny during that round of games, but recovered when the sides met again in the Leinster championship, pushing the game all the way to extra-time before bowing out.
Improvement has been gradual and Herity is encouraged by the work-rate of his players.
“We have been saying it to them since the start of the year that they are capable of beating anyone on any given day.
The talent is there. But it’s only when you start winning matches that that level of belief is going to be in the group. It’s brilliant that in the last two games, things have started to turn around and they’re getting that bit of belief and confidence together.
“You’re hoping that they bring that good run into the championship and it’s going to be tough against the likes Clare, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny.”
“It’s going to be an extremely tough campaign so it’s good to have those two results under our belt and we’re peaking at the right time.”
Adjusting to the dynamic of the Dublin camogie panel is a challenging transition for Herity.
His background in the game is entrenched in success, medals and a self-belief that every game is winnable.
Achievements of that magnitude are much less frequent for the camogie players in the capital, and Herity is learning to tailor his managerial approach to try and change their mindset.
“It was difficult at the start, where you’re coming from a background where you are constantly winning and you’ve won everything there is to win.
You’re then trying to convince players that they’re good enough to beat anyone but you know, deep down, they’re not seeing it in themselves.
“Everyone in the Kilkenny dressing room had complete and utter belief that every single game they went out, they were going to win.
“That wasn’t the way with Dublin (camogie), but thankfully with recent results, that’s starting to change and that’s brilliant to see.
We (Kilkenny) were always told that winning is a habit but so is losing so when the game is there to be won, teams don’t know how to win it.”
During his playing days, Herity could never pull himself away from the thrill of inter-county hurling.
For seven years — until he retired in 2014 — his focus was Kilkenny. The lure of J1s and summer holidays never tempted him away from that.
He’s dealing with different personalities now, who have other ambitions beyond sport.
It takes some understanding on his part, but Herity supports the Dublin camogie players who want to take a break and explore the world.
He’s also starting to see a softening of attitudes in men’s GAA in relation to taking time out from their respective codes.
“I would have went through my whole 20′s and not gone on a summer holiday. I was very fortunate as well that when we did win the All-Ireland, we got to see most of the world basically, so I’m blessed that way.
“If these girls want to go off and that’s their decision, then so be it. You’ve just got to understand that and just hope that if they go this year, they’re not gone next year and you might have them back next year.”
He added:
“The fear is always there with lads that if they do go, they’re place will be gone and someone else will fill it fairly quickly.
“I would have obviously seen that down through the years with Kilkenny. The thoughts of heading off to America for the year just never entered anyone’s head. If you were on the panel, you just stuck on the panel.
“It has started to change, when you look at Colm Galvin from Clare and Tom Devine from Waterford. It’s starting to change a little bit.
I admire lads now who are able to step away. I know myself I wouldn’t have been able to and for someone to be able to say, “yes, it’s my time, I need a break,” I can definitely understand it.
“The GAA is fantastic and it’s absolutely brilliant but there is a life outside of GAA and as manager, you’ve got to be able to cater for the fact that some people want to go off and travel.”
Herity doesn’t miss playing. He brought his club career to an abrupt ending after 18 years of service, but he’s happy to invest his time in other aspects of the sport.
Not even the championship weather has reignited a longing to lace up the boots.
When he’s not overseeing sessions or helping goalkeepers perfect their skills, he’s pouring over footage of games and attending club games to assess the talent on the Dublin club camogie circuit.
He’s also trying to apply some of the teachings he picked up from Brian Cody over the years, while also finding his own voice in the dressing-room.
The transition from playing life into retirement has left several players with a void that seems too deep to fill.
Luckily for Herity, he has plenty to keep him occupied.
“I know that when I did play, I would have put huge pressure on myself the whole time to be performing at peak level and I would have been pretty hard on myself with the way I played anyway so trying to step away from that and give myself a break is enjoyable.
“I’m happy that I can ease off, I’m not too hard on myself as manager yet, but I’m sure those days will come.”
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