NIALL Ó CEALLACHÁÍN will take charge of the Dublin senior hurlers on a three-year term.
Na Fianna man Ó Ceallacháin was ratified at meeting of the Dublin County Board tonight.
Ó Ceallacháin will head a management team which also consists of David Curtin (Ballyboden St Endas), Donal McGovern (Kilmacud Crokes) and Nigel O’Hara (Na Fianna).
Currently chasing back-to-back county senior titles with Na Fianna, Ó Ceallacháin has been instrumental to the club’s ascent in the Dublin hurling pecking order.
Na Fianna’s senior title last year was the first in the club’s history and backed up a period of underage success. They were later narrowly defeated in their provincial decider by Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels.
Dublin county board chairman Mick Seavers said: “We look forward to working with Niall and his management team in 2025 and beyond.
“They will bring a huge passion and enthusiasm for Dublin hurling to the role and have a detailed knowledge of the Dublin club hurling scene.
“We wish him, his management team and the panel all the very best in the coming seasons.”
Will they ever stop god now i really hope we hammer them
If you read all his comments it’s actually very reasonable and balanced. We are not the best in the world. We are currently the top 4 but I’m convinced we can get much stronger when Andy and Co bring forward the next generation.
@Sam Bingham: if they ever do. Certainly not much sign of that on this tour.
@Brenda Collins: was never going to happen on a 2 match tour against top quality opposition.
God they’re an insecure bunch, if you have to keep saying you’re the best team in the world….
@Robert O’Connor: if you actually think about how these comments arise, you’ll realise it’s Irish journalists who keep asking this question. Essentially the same question of different people in the Boks coaching team, knowing that no matter what the answer is, or how it is phrased, they get to whip up outrage and generate clicks.
In the noise, there’s some element of truth. We peak for every game, every year, because our funding model depends on results. Other nations field B sides, prioritise club games, have less control of their test players, etc etc. So we’re more likely to have a (relatively) strong WR ranking between RWCs, and a (relatively) weak performance at RWCs.
@Richard Barnes: finally someone talking sense
@Richard Barnes: A typical Irish season is 5 6N games (all must win, after all it’s the only annual championship), 2-3 match series away to top SH opponents (no NH team messes with their selection for those) and 3 Autumn games against 2 top SH teams and 1 other. With the resurgence of Italy, it’s only 1-2 games a year with any scope for experiment. In a Lions year, Ireland will perforce experiment against Tier 2 sides. Given that Ireland is drawn from just 4 clubs, the equation gets even tougher as only a limited number of players get enough game time to prove themselves. That’s why an Emergent Ireland / Ireland A is so important to the ‘Ireland’ project.
@Richard Barnes: like who? South Africa haven’t made any unforced changes since 2017, that’s why their lineup on Saturday was their most experienced of all time.
France spent four years building a squad. Still got knocked out in the QF.
Schmidt gave out loads of caps to up-and-comers in 2016 and 17. Still ended up crashing in 2019. Trying to plan for the post-Sexton era with Madigan, Jackson and Carbery, yet Sexton was still standing in 2023.
If the young players are good enough, they’ll get in naturally. Play your best players and win the next game.
@Greg Doyle: I hear you! I guess France is the best example. Always rotating due to the insane Top 14 calendar. SA also rotate quite a bit, due to overseas player unavailability, and massive player base to pick from. Eng & Aus are the diluted versions of France and SA. Fiji & Samoa can barely field a team outside RWC, so are always much stronger than their rankings suggest. We are at the other extreme, along with NZ. Always rest players. Always prioritise test matches. Always pick best 23 possible. Always peak in the rankings between RWCs.
@Richard Barnes: Agreed, what you’re saying makes sense. I guess the point I’m stressing is that experimentation between WCs doesn’t always equal success. At the end of 2017, we were excited about Adam Byrne, Darren Sweetnam, Jacob Stockdale and Jordan Larmour getting their chances. Yet two World Cups later, they had all fallen away, and Earls was still there at 36! When lads like Doris and Keenan came through, they didn’t need loads of ‘A’ games, or tours to Georgia. They were just ready.
@Greg Doyle: P.S. Thinking about Scotland and Wales….They try to copy Ire/NZ, but have zero control over their overseas (mainly Top 14) players. We had a similar issue with JS when he was at Racing. Totally blew the IRFU model. How many more games might Scotland have won if they had Finn all tournament? Or Wales had Biggar? Instead, they play Top 14 club rugby on the rest weekends, like the French and Italians used to, and sometimes still do. That definitely increases our chances of winning 6Ns every year. Hence the higher WR ranking.
@Richard Barnes: Good point, do you think our 6N record flatters us then, or that a 6N title is ‘less valuable’ because of the existence of the WC? I couldn’t care less for the world rankings, or for trolls waiting in the long grass to throw ‘chokers’ or ‘bottlers’ at us after the WC based on those rankings. I’m just happy that we have a very respectable side that can go toe-to-toe with any team in the world, and can accept it when we lose tight, competitive games against world-class opposition. I don’t miss the days pre-2013 when we were held back by inconsistent and incompetent coaches.
@Greg Doyle: our messages crossed. 100% agree with you. I’m not a believer in experimenting with the Test side. Especially not versus top nations. That’s why we need an A side tour fixture, emerging tours etc. And a thriving URC, with talent spread across the provinces a little more than in recent years. All good. We’re getting there!!
@Richard Barnes: All good, yeah I had my own rants to air there! Enjoy the game. Hopefully we’ll be commenting on a win this time tomorrow!
@Greg Doyle: Ah, our messages crossed again (!). I don’t feel we’re winning “devalued” 6Ns. I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved. If other nations aren’t as well organized, that’s their fault, etc. That said, it offers a small explanation as to why we seem to stumble at RWCs. Japan, Argentina, Wales, etc, have knocked us out a few times. That seems crazy. Having that high WR ranking feels like a noose around our necks. And our “competitive advantage” (ie time together, rested players, etc) is taken away from us at RWC, or more precisely, the playing field is levelled out. So our boys don’t take the field feeling so confident, just as the stakes are at their highest. It’s what happened to NZ for 24 years, so we are certainly not alone!
@Richard Barnes: URC is not the top target. In order to stand a chance against the best of the French and English clubs in the ERC one of the provinces needs to be prioritised, particularly given the latest French TV deal. I understand people’s passion for their own regions but we are still developing a game. We need as much success as possible to generate interest. Leinster have come up just short in the ERC in recent years against superb French sides but success is relative. We’ve come a long way since 95.
They know Ireland are going to give them a hiding tomorrow!
IMO it’s a bit naive to experiment with young lads against SA as some people have suggested. Conversely teams like SA and NZ always pick their strongest teams against us.It is absurd to think Farrell wouldn’t reciprocate in like manner.
@Tom Reilly: I agree with you there Tom l,against a team of s.a’s quality and strength it’s definitely not a the time for young inexperienced players
Wtf stick? Keep the media away from that lad, defensive in possible defeat already. The no. 2 side in the world is going down again dammit !!.. :)
Covering all bases… like there style !
Another SA win tomorrow I’m afraid. Ireland have a few lads in squad who won’t be at next world cup and we should be using tours like this to get lads game time and build for future
@Paul Hogan: not this one. Playing the most experienced SA side in history, in SA requires the strongest, most experienced side available. Lots of this team will be available at the next RWC and they’ll be better for this experience (win or lose). After this series I’d be inclined to retire Cian and Peter and Connor. Bundee in a year’s time although Stu Mc and Jamie O can play 12. No disrespect to any of those 4, top quality players, given everything in green but time has caught up with them.