DUBLIN GO INTO this year’s Leinster hurling opener as reigning champions for the first time in 53 years.
According to their captain Johnny McCaffrey, last year’s provincial quarter final draw with Wexford was the turning point for the capital’s hurling team.
Over a year has past now since Ger Louchnane labelled the performance of his team in Wexford Park that day as being ‘pure constipated hurling’.
“I think we knew ourselves,” said the skipper. “We knew we hadn’t performed; we didn’t hurl well. It was Ger’s comments and fair enough – but we knew we hadn’t hurled ourselves and given a performance that we expected to do.
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“It was great to have the replay the week later because you can get it out of your system straight away instead of hanging around for a couple of weeks. We were happy to roll on.”
And roll on they did, the Dubs followed up on their 1-17 a-piece draw with an eight point win in the replay – before beating Kilkenny and Dublin to win their first title in over half a decade.
“I suppose the drawn game in Wexford (was the turning point). When you go down and should have been ‘bet’ and with ten minutes to go you come back and get the draw. That was a big step.
“Every game you played was an improvement on the day before. You know, you weren’t thinking too far ahead of yourself because you didn’t have the time, you didn’t have the energy to think too far ahead. You had to think in the moment. That’s what we did and thankfully that’s what got us over the line.”
Johnny McCaffrey lifts the Bob O'Keeffe cup. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
After last year’s success Dublin are facing a different scenario this time around. This year they bypassed the quarter final stage, meaning Saturday’s semi final with Wexford will be their first championship outing of 2014.
“You would like to probably have a quarter-final, to have the same amount of games played as the team you’re going to play against. But that’s the way it is. We’re delighted to be in a Leinster semi-final, because of winning the competition last year.
“It still matters on every game you play. It doesn’t matter what title you have. Every team still wants to beat you. We still want to beat the other team we’re playing. It’s still all about getting yourself right, preparation being key, and trying to give our best performance on any given day.”
Brian Cody's Kilkenny are still the team everyone fears. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Last year Dublin overcame Kilkenny, again after a replay, in the Leinster semi final. In what’s possibly the most open hurling championship ever, are the old order being shattered?
“I think so, yeah. It was really open last year. Any team you play are going to be extremely hard. Kilkenny had a few good games in the league, a few bad games, but came out on top again.
“Tipp were looking like they were probably in a relegation play-off and then went on to a league final. So it just shows how tight the margins were in the league, and it just shows how competitive every game you play now is going to be. And you can’t take anything for granted.”
'It was Ger's comments and fair enough' - Johnny McCaffrey on 'constipated hurling' remark
DUBLIN GO INTO this year’s Leinster hurling opener as reigning champions for the first time in 53 years.
According to their captain Johnny McCaffrey, last year’s provincial quarter final draw with Wexford was the turning point for the capital’s hurling team.
Over a year has past now since Ger Louchnane labelled the performance of his team in Wexford Park that day as being ‘pure constipated hurling’.
“It was great to have the replay the week later because you can get it out of your system straight away instead of hanging around for a couple of weeks. We were happy to roll on.”
And roll on they did, the Dubs followed up on their 1-17 a-piece draw with an eight point win in the replay – before beating Kilkenny and Dublin to win their first title in over half a decade.
“I suppose the drawn game in Wexford (was the turning point). When you go down and should have been ‘bet’ and with ten minutes to go you come back and get the draw. That was a big step.
After last year’s success Dublin are facing a different scenario this time around. This year they bypassed the quarter final stage, meaning Saturday’s semi final with Wexford will be their first championship outing of 2014.
“It still matters on every game you play. It doesn’t matter what title you have. Every team still wants to beat you. We still want to beat the other team we’re playing. It’s still all about getting yourself right, preparation being key, and trying to give our best performance on any given day.”
Last year Dublin overcame Kilkenny, again after a replay, in the Leinster semi final. In what’s possibly the most open hurling championship ever, are the old order being shattered?
“I think so, yeah. It was really open last year. Any team you play are going to be extremely hard. Kilkenny had a few good games in the league, a few bad games, but came out on top again.
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Championship 2014 All-Ireland Senior HC Leinster SHC GAA on the chin Dublin Wexford