Seán Morantalks to Pat Daly, the GAA's director of games , on Dublin's showing at the weekend
The most talked about result of the opening weekend's National Hurling League fixtures was Dublin's draw with holders and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, who haven't lost a competitive match in nearly 18 months.
That Tommy Naughton's team came so close didn't come as a complete surprise to Pat Daly, the GAA's director of games.
"I remember when the Dublin Colleges won the All-Ireland last year, at the following HDC (Hurling Development Committee) meeting Nicky English attributed the success in part to the training they were able to do in Ballymun at the floodlit, all-weather facility where they were able to work on their hurling at times of the year when it wasn't possible on other surfaces.
"Dublin have also been doing a fair bit of work in Ballymun and in Thomas Davis (the club has a similar full-length pitch). I'd heard of Dublin still hurling away as late as 10.45 one night. Kilkenny were missing the Ballyhale players but that was a strong team and Dublin put it up to them."
While everyone in the capital is wary of getting carried away on the basis of one big result - they actually defeated Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final three years ago - this was an encouraging display by the team that hasn't had a great deal to enthuse over at senior level in recent years.
Underage development has been conspicuously productive but the dispiriting sight of so many talented hurlers dedicating themselves to the football team has eroded morale as well as the playing base. But the development structures have continued to produce hurlers and if the senior team can achieve critical mass the chances of keeping them improve dramatically.
"In fairness to Dublin, there's a lot of work being done," according to Daly, "and there are 40 games promotion officers based in the county now even if it's too early just yet to see the effect that will have on hurling.
"They've been on the way up and Ned Quinn (Kilkenny and HDC chair) has made the point that Dublin have a good opportunity to become Kilkenny's closest challengers because of all the underage progress that has been made."
This is a big year in the National League with the top four teams in each Division One section qualifying for next year's top flight and a ninth county to be sifted out of those that come fifth in each section plus the winners of Division Two.
"After yesterday I think it's become more of a challenge and an opportunity than a threat to Dublin," says Daly. "They have a tough trip to Casement Park to take on Antrim and if they come through that they'll be in the shake-up to qualify for the new Division One."
In general he is pleased with the first weekend of the league but accepts that in the current, outgoing format there are great difficulties in promoting the programme of matches because of the disparity between teams.
"That's going to have to wait until next year. Crowds at the weekend were probably better than expected but the various suggestions flying around that games could be played under lights like in the football need a tighter Division One where all the fixtures are competitive to be properly realised. We'll have that chance next year."
