Another tough test for Dublin

DUBLIN HURLER David O’Callaghan probably didn’t expect the interrogation that came with his appearance in Croke Park yesterday for the announcement of Centra as new championship sponsors. But given Dublin’s poor league opener against Waterford last Sunday, and the fact that he’s back in the team for the even tougher challenge against Tipperary tomorrow, O’Callaghan was an inevitable target.

“Waterford last Sunday was a reality check for us,” said O’Callaghan, who missed the game because of a hamstring injury. “It just shows that division one is serious. There’s no room for complacency of any sort. It was an eye opener. It was just a very flat performance. It’s probably the worst in the last couple of years that I can remember.

“There would be a lot of heavy training this time of year but you can’t make excuses. You’ve just got to get out and fight the fight. It’s going to be a tough game on Sunday but look, we want to be in division one, and we want to be testing ourselves against these teams. So we’re just looking forward to Sunday and improving our performances.”

The Centra deal will cover the next three years of the hurling championship, to replace RTÉ, as joint-sponsors along with Guinness and Etihad Airways. Last week, the GAA also announced SuperValu as the replacement for Toyota as sponsors of the football championship, with fellow co-sponsors Ulster Bank and Vodafone. Each of the football sponsors are each believed to be paying € 1.5 million a year for the privilege of being associated with the championship, while in hurling, the deals are believed to be worth € 1.1 million a year to the GAA.

Given Dublin’s progress in the hurling championship last summer, making a Leinster final, last Sunday’s 13-point loss to Waterford was particularly disappointing – although there was some consolation in that Dublin didn’t lose All Star Alan McCrabbe, as his suspected broken leg turned out to be nothing more serious than bruising, and he in fact resumes duties against Tipperary in Parnell Park tomorrow.

McCrabbe’s swift recovery means he resumes duties at corner forward, with David O’Callaghan replacing Kevin Flynn in the other corner, as David Treacy moves to full forward. There is only one other switch as Simon Lambert comes in for Joey Boland at midfield.

Last night’s MacRory Cup semi-final between St Patrick’s, Dungannon, and St Colman’s, Newry, at Casement Park was called off following heavy snow.

The game is to be refixed for next weekend, but the other semi-final, involving Omagh CBS and St Mary’s Magherafelt is expected to go ahead today at Glen, Maghera.

DUBLIN (SH v Tipperary): G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, R Fallon, M O’Brien; J McCaffrey, S Lambert; P Kelly, L Rushe, S Durkin; D O’Callaghan, D Treacy, A McCrabbe.