Former Dublin hurling manager Humphrey Kelleher has called for fresh thinking in the preparation of the county's underage and schools’ structures.
'Friends of Dublin Hurling’ secretary Kelleher says that there is huge hurling coaching work ongoing in the capital and stresses that the passion and desire from those helping is obvious.
But he feels that the development work at underage clubs and schools needs to be smarter.
"We are ranked the seventh or eighth hurling county in the country and that hasn’t changed for the last number of years, sadly," he says.
"We probably got up to four or five in the Dalo [Anthony Daly] years, but we have reverted back to seven or eight and I don’t see it changing now.
"2023 was not the best of years but I did see the seeds of change in that our skill levels and first touch improved. Still, on the big day, such as the game against Clare, we were off it."
It’s below senior level where Kelleher feels most focus is needed, however.
"I am calling for a review for a long time, I have requested a review of coaching within the coaches themselves.
"Across all underage, schools, colleges and club levels, are we getting the best coaches? Are we getting the best out of the coaches? Are we getting the kids enough of the best coaching within schools?
"With the numbers we have we should have representation in a Leinster schools final every couple of years not once every 10 years.
"It’s nothing near good enough for the population we have."
Kelleher welcomed the appointment of All-Ireland-winning manager Micheal Donoghue who oversaw his first season in charge of the seniors this year.
But he is adamant that a sea change of thought is needed in the approach to children aged nine, 10 and heading towards secondary school.
"How many times do we see Dublin players walk into cul de sacs and not have that clinical drive to get a goal when needed?"
"At that stage have they the right skills? Is their intensity right? The way they play that game, are these things all right?
"There is no quick fix here so we must ensure that our intensity, our ruthlessness, our decision making matches the likes of St Kierans in Kilkenny, Colaiste Chríost Rí in Cork or Tulla CBS in Clare.
"We are not near those people yet and unless we get there we will continue to suffer at senior level.
"Send down 50 kids at 12 years of age to St Kierans and bring them back to Dublin to do the Leaving Cert. Would they return as better hurlers? I believe they would."
The Waterford native is encouraged that a lot of the Dublin senior panel available in 2024 will have won a Leinster minor medal.
"But it’s a big step up to Under-20 and senior. Our Under-20s didn’t do well a few years back when they lost to Cork in the All-Ireland final," he adds.
"And I see the same issues at senior level - quickness, speed, pace, intensity, first touch and taking the right decisions. How many times do we see Dublin players walk into cul de sacs and not have that clinical drive to get a goal when needed?
"I did see Cian O’Sullivan get the better of Conor Prunty in this year’s league game at Dungarvan and score two great goals, but we need that all of the time."
He says the club structures don’t help.
"We have four or five teams at same level and the rest are not there so many fixtures are a waste of time.
"We have eight to 12 teams not at the level needed, so now it is up to clubs, schools and colleges to raise the bar. The proof is in the pudding. I am waiting since 1961 for Dublin get to an All-Ireland final. More Tipperary men have medals for Dublin than Dublin players themselves. I might get criticised for saying these things, but denial is not any good.
"We are working very hard but not very smart. No one would be more delighted than I if Dublin were to start winning Leinster titles. I think we need a different way of thinking."
It has been a busy time for Kelleher who has just released his new book, A Place to Play - a publication that took him ten years to complete.
It is a history of GAA stadia in all 32 counties and beyond, featuring all-new drone photography and wide-ranging and hugely entertaining historical information about each location.
In this book Kelleher has created a vibrant record of 101 GAA county grounds in every corner of the country.
Each GAA ground featured has served as a county ground at some stage in its lifetime. Named after saints, landowners, political figures and more, every one has a unique and absorbing history. Alongside these fascinating stories, the author, in collaboration with historian Dónal McAnallen, chronicles the development of the grounds over the years, and the often surprising ways that funds were raised to do so.
"Meeting the people as I wrote this book was such a lovely experience," Kelleher says. "They were ever so helpful in offering information about their cherished piece of land.
"Often, we’d greet groundsmen as they got ready for the next game but we always got a mine of information and a huge welcome."
The beautiful hardback book was short-listed for the An Post Best Irish Published Book of the Year and its pages are filled with a rich history of GAA venues.
He only hopes that sky blue Dublin jerseys can soon start carving out hurling victories across the country that he travelled to get this treasure trove of stories published.
