Dubs determined tobuild blue stairway 


DUBLIN have put the hurls under the stairs. "It was a difficult season. There's no doubt about that," admits manager, Colum King.

It was Colum's first year in the job. The high-point was a draw in division 1 of the league against Tipperary at Trinity Gaels.

But Colum maintains that Dublin's closing championship chapter last week against Wexford in Parnell Park could be a blue spark.

"As a group, it is important for the players to stick together. It is just a matter of the panel believing in themselves.

"I feel they have plenty to look forward to. There are many positives to take from the campaign."

One of them was the introduction of new faces. "We brought in a few players from the minor squad. We didn't want to throw them in too soon.

"We wanted to let them settle into the panel and learn their trade, and, hopefully, now they can start kicking on and complement our more experienced players.

"It is always the experienced players that you turn to. And we are lucky to have such figures who lead by example.

"Looking to the future, it is all about knuckling down, bringing more players through to put pressure on the established players.

"The skill is there. It is not easy to show it when you are under pressure in games, but that second half against Wexford proved what the side is capable of.

"The catching, the striking, the movement.…it was all there. And the attitude was never in question. There's so much to build on.

"The target for next year would be different than what it was for this season," states Colum as the Dubs seek to ignite the renaissance that would light up the sport.