Dublin hurling boss Anthony Daly says Sunday’s Allianz NHL Division 1 success was “payback” to all those who have invested so much time and dedication into hurling in the capital in recent times.
“We worked awful hard but now the targets have to be raised. Today is for the lads and it is also for all the people who put in the work. Everyone knows the work and time and all the effort that went into promoting hurling in Dublin. This is a payback for those lads.”
Daly admitted that he was close to ‘calling it a day’ following last summer’s loss to Antrim to Sunday’s victory helped to ease that pain.
“This was a long time to be waiting. I suppose last July I felt like walking away from it and felt that we didn’t have enough character.
“But when we decided to go back at it I asked everyone to display a bit of character.
“Right since we went back at the start of the year we upped the training and made more demands on them. To a man they responded. It is a nice bit of a reward.”
Dublin now turn their focus to their Leinster SHC fixture against Offaly (currently scheduled for Parnell Park on May 29).
“Obviously there is a Championship ahead which is more important but you can’t scoff at league when you haven’t been in a league final since 1946,” says Daly.
“It is a huge lift in confidence. If we can help to drive it on to the next level, then great. We will enjoy Sunday and then get our minds trained in on the Faithful coming to Dublin on May 29.
“We have to be ready for that and we will be ready for that. You have to try to get players to believe they can play at this level and the only way to do it is days like this.”
Dublin returned to preparations on Monday afternoon with a training session on Portmarnock beach.
Article Source: hill16.ie
