Dublin's Tomás Brady tells IAN O'RIORDANhis side will front up to Kilkenny on Sunday
THE COMPOSURE, self-confidence, posturing – the sense that Dublin belong in a Leinster hurling final is now complete. At least it seemed that way when Dublin fullback Tomás Brady met the press in Croke Park yesterday.
Surrounded by microphones, with cameras flashing in the background, Brady spoke about the challenge of playing Kilkenny on Sunday without blinking. For almost two decades few Dublin hurlers could have done the same without shaking. It’s not just that they’ve nothing to fear; when you’ve got nothing you’ve got nothing to lose.
“We are a more confident team now,” said Brady. “The last few years were hard to take. And this year, if we didn’t get that monkey off our back, it would have been even more difficult. But even on the day against Wexford we knew we could pull through. There is that bit of resolve there this year.
“We’re maturing as a group, and the new management, Anthony Daly, has instilled a bit more steel, and that’s true on match days as well. Belief though as well is a big thing. We’re starting to believe a bit more as well.”
Dublin believe they have a chance against Kilkenny on Sunday. They have to. But it’s their first Leinster final since 1991, and it’s not all about winning. It’s about playing up to their potential and proving they deserve to share the main stage with the All-Ireland champions.
“If we get beaten by 20 points people won’t be surprised. But if we are competitive maybe they will be surprised. There is not much pressure on us in that sense, but we’re putting pressure on ourselves to perform. If we don’t we won’t be competitive. We have to be playing to our optimum level or we won’t have a hope of winning. We know the task will be huge.”
Brady’s task is huge. The full back holds down one of the key defensive roles on Sunday against the proven fire-power of Henry Shefflin, Eddie Brennan, Richie Power and company. Yet there is a lot to suggest Brady is up to it.
Against Wexford in the semi-final he confidently pocketed big Stephen Banville, holding him to a single point. Plus he’s been polishing his defensive skills for several years now, helping the Dublin minors to the Leinster title in 2005, and the Dublin Under-21s to the same title in 2007 – their first since 1972.
The only real surprise about his progress with Dublin is it hasn’t been with the footballers. A product of Na Fianna, still better known as a football club, he admitted hurling wasn’t his first love. He’s a rare example of a Dublin footballer converting to hurling – rather than the other way around.
“As a young fella I would have been more into the football, but then as I got older hurling was my main sport. But it wasn’t too hard a decision to go with the hurlers. At the time I was just out of minor, and I got a phone call from Tommy Naughton. I just wanted to play something and I’m delighted I made that decision. Now the hard work we have been doing is bearing fruit.
“Once I got on to the senior team my first ambition was to get to a Leinster final, and now that we’re there it’s a great feeling. It would be nice to draw as big a crowd as the footballers, but it will be a gradual thing. It won’t happen overnight. Hopefully we’ll get a good crowd out but it’s not the most important thing either.”
Brady was only four years old when Dublin played in their last Leinster hurling final, in 1991, when they held Kilkenny to a 1-13 to 1-11 score line. If they can get as close again on Sunday it will be fair achievement, but the secret, said Brady, is concentrating on your own game first.
“This is going to be the ultimate test. We are up against some top-class forwards, the best in the country. So we’ll have to be on our toes, to say the least. Obviously, you look at their players, but you can’t concentrate on that too much. You have to concentrate on your own game first, who you are marking, because it’s about getting your own game right, concentrating on getting to the ball first, and trying to keep to our own game plan as much as we can.
“You also have to front up to Kilkenny or else you won’t beat them. But we’ll be looking to hurl as well. I feel we are a good enough hurling team to compete. Without a doubt we have to be physical. They’re a physical team. We’ll have to be willing to put the challenges in, take a belt or two, to win.” Dublin’s chances of making a fair contest of it improved considerably when Alan McCrabbe returned to training on Monday evening, over the worst of the knee injury which cut short his game against Wexford. Liam Ryan is also back to full fitness following the calf injury which ruled him out against Wexford.
