DESPITE ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES as one of the top teams in the country in recent years, Oisin Gough believes Dublin are still not recognised as “a hurling county”.
However, the Cuala defender is adamant that the Dubs are a match for any side when they consistently produce the kind of performances that have seen them win three consecutive games in the Allianz Hurling League.
The Division 1A campaign got off to an inauspicious start for Ger Cunningham’s side, who suffered a 14-point defeat to Tipperary in their opening game on 13 February. Subsequent victories against Galway, Cork and Waterford have laid that Thurles thrashing to rest.
Gough has been in good form for Dublin in all three games, with the 26-year-old turning in impressive performances to stake a strong claim at corner-back, having opted out of the panel last year in order to focus on completing a PhD course at UCD.
“There was a lot of talk obviously but I don’t think we’ve changed anything dramatically. We just didn’t show up on the day, whatever happened mentally,” said Gough, reflecting on the reaction to the loss against Tipperary.
I think what you’re seeing in the last few games from us is more normal, so that’s the level we think we’re at and it’s just about consistency in our performances.
“For whatever reason over the last few years, Dublin have been able to produce very good displays, and then other days they don’t show up. We’re just trying to keep that consistency, so maybe it’s just a mental blip.”
Essential to maintaining that consistency is Dublin’s workrate, Gough explains: “We have a gameplan and it’s mainly about using the ball, trying not to hit aimless balls on the back-foot, only to see them return.
“We try to work the ball around the park, keep possession, get scores throughout the game. So it’s less swashbuckling hurling than people are used to, and more workmanlike and methodical.
“Traditionally people say we’re still not a hurling county, even though the lads growing up have played at the highest level. We know how good we are.”
Asked if it irritates the players when Dublin are seemingly not regarded as a traditional hurling county, Gough said: “It does and it doesn’t. We were pretty successful growing up. At senior, the likes of Kilkenny over the last 10/15 years have been incredibly successful, but we’ve won a National League, we’ve won a senior Leinster.
The vast majority of the team has multiple underage Leinster titles so it shouldn’t annoy us. We know how good we are as individual players and as a team. On our day we’re as good as anybody we play.”
Dublin will aim a fourth victory on the trot on Sunday afternoon when they travel to face Kilkenny, who are currently on the same streak of wins. The Dubs were five-point winners at Nowlan Park last year so they’re not daunted by the prospect of taking to the road to face Brian Cody’s men.
“We would have grown up playing Kilkenny and beating Kilkenny in Leinster finals. Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly… the traditional hurling counties in Leinster. So there is no fear of playing these teams and over the last couple of years I think we’ve had some good matches with Kilkenny especially,” said Gough, who won a Leinster U21 title with Dublin in 2010.
“I think as a team we enjoy playing Kilkenny. It’s a team we look forward to playing, Kilkenny. We just like the challenge and we like to put ourselves out there against the best team in Ireland over the last few years and giving it everything we’ve got and see how we finish at the end.”
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