A momentous weekend unfurled recently with Limerick rising triumphant, in stark contrast to the ongoing struggle of Dublin’s hurlers. Limerick, in their green and white, painted a picture of glory in Thurles on Sunday, while Dublin’s hurling battle in Croke Park, the following day, bore more resemblance to an inky nightmare.
In the recent times, Limerick has emerged as the prevailing powerhouse in the world of hurling, while the Dublin hurlers continue to grapple with their identity. Their lacklustre defence against Kilkenny on Saturday marked yet another missed shot in the decennium where Dublin’s upward climb seems to have reached a flatline.
The Leinster final on Saturday ended early as a competitive match. Eoin Cody’s goal in the third minute set the tone and Dublin seemed to abide by the rules laid down by the opposing team.
The Sunday’s hullaballoo, caused by power cut off in the Semple Stadium and the ensuing delay in commencement added more theatrics to the Munster final. This was a far cry from the Leinster decider, which couldn’t drum up a speck of drama in its 70-odd minute run on Saturday night.
Here are five conclusions drawn from the weekend and a call for GAA to be held accountable for the erratic scheduling of hurling matches.
Going back to 2013, Limerick and Dublin managed to cease their respective long intervals devoid of provincial achievements. Under the guidance of then-manager Anthony Daly, the Dubs managed their first victory in the Leinster SHC since 1961 by triumphing over Galway. Not a week later, John Allen’s Limerick ousting Cork, brought home the Munster title for the first time since 1996.
Though the next month resulted in defeats by Cork and Clare for Dublin and Limerick respectively in the All-Ireland semi-finals, it undeniably marked strides of progress and the collection of silverware for both teams.
The only Dublin player who witnessed the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Cork, Danny Sutcliffe, was on the field the previous Saturday. Comparatively, the Limerick team who played against Clare in August of the same year, had three of its players – Nickie Quaid, Declan Hannon, and Graeme Mulcahy on the field during the recent win over Clare.
The ensuing divergence in the road led Limerick and Dublin to move along distinct paths where Limerick has scooped up six additional provincial titles so far. John Kiely’s troupe might further cement their status as the finest hurling team of all time in the approaching month.
Since their last Leinster title victory in 2013, Dublin’s performance in the hurling world has been less than stellar, reaching but losing in a mere three finals since then. The defeats were at the hands of Kilkenny, and they managed to trump them by a combined 37 points. Indeed, the last time Dublin triumphed over the Cats in the championship was in the same year, 2013.
This past Saturday marked another disheartening 16-point loss for Dublin, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the remainder of their season. They await either Cork or Offaly in the quarter-finals, with Limerick as potential opponents in the All-Ireland semi-finals. The chances of them making a significant impact in the tournament in July, however, are deemed slim.
Truthfully, Dublin seems to struggle to secure a position among the elite competitors in hurling. The 16-point thrashing they endured on Saturday is harmful to the visibility and reputation of the sport in Dublin. Such losses make it harder to attract and retain interest and support in the game within the city, particularly in comparison to football.
Last Saturday’s match could have motivated supporters to root for the team, but the loss essentially reinforces the perceptions of skeptics. In Dublin, hurling still operates largely in the shadow of football. This disparity is pronounced when dual players choose soccer over hurling, especially when up against counties where hurling is venerated.
Nonetheless, substantial resources have been invested in Dublin hurling, and coaching programmes at club academies engage and train thousands of young enthusiasts across the city every weekend. Despite not having as extensive a fan base as football, the senior hurlers have capitalised over the years on various benefits, including corporate partnerships with car companies.
However, the hurlers’ performance has not matched the ambitious goals outlined in the 2011 Dublin GAA’s Strategic Plan. The plan, titled ‘Unleashing the Blue Wave’, outlined the aspiration for the senior hurlers to capture a Liam MacCarthy win every five years, and similarly ambitious targets were set for the under-21 and minor hurlers.
Dublin’s last substantial triumph in senior All-Ireland hurling dates back to 1938 and they’ve never been successful in seizing an under-21/20 championship title. Their most recent minor championship win was recorded in 1965. Despite these odds, they’ve been maintaining a competitive foothold at the underage Leinster level, having been provincial under-21/20 victors in 2016 and 2020 and made it to the finals in 2021 and again this year. They also clinched the Leinster minor championship in both 2016 and 2018.
Nonetheless, they’ve struggled in recent years, often falling short of important victories at senior level despite appearing poised to make significant progress. Their loss to Kilkenny last Saturday left them reeling, however, as Micheál Donoghue noted, “They’re much better than that”. He acknowledged the youth of his team and the journey they’re on. Despite the sting of defeat, Donoghue highlights that they’ve got another game in a fortnight which they’ll need to prepare for.
Given their extensive player base, Dublin’s break-through in hurling feels inevitable, yet the weight of their historical performance continues to overshadow any potential progress. Saturday’s match was just another in a series of false starts for Dublin hurling, a trend they hope to break in future games.