DUBLIN HURLING:IT MAY be a little too soon to talk about relegation dog-fights, but Dublin hurler Alan McCrabbe admits that pressure is mounting going into the concluding rounds of the Allianz National Hurling League.
They face Cork on Sunday, the only unbeaten team in Division One, and, following that, Galway and finally Limerick. Unless Dublin pick up points very soon then that final game against Limerick – with or without their best players – will definitely be a dog-fight.
This time last year, having just beaten Waterford, Dublin were in contention for a place in the final, but with only one win so far this season – over Tipperary, surprisingly – this Sunday’s showdown with Cork in Parnell Park is crucial. Despite some skewed results given the stand-off in Limerick, Division One has been highly competitive.
Gone is the predictability of recent seasons. Gone too are the days of taking any team for granted. Cork are the only unbeaten team, but have Tipperary, Galway and Waterford breathing down their necks – and only a fool would write off Kilkenny, even at this stage.
“It does make Cork a very big game for us,” says McCrabbe. “We’d rather be safe now than let it come down to the last game and put pressure on ourselves. I suppose if you do put in a good performance we’ll give Cork a good go for it on Sunday, so please God, we’ll get our two points there and push out of relegation and look forward to the championship then.
“At least, last week, for ourselves, after being beaten by Offaly, and letting the county down, we did get a performance against Kilkenny. Getting beaten on the day by the All-Ireland champions probably was expected, but for ourselves, it was important to get the performance and push on.
“Hopefully, this weekend with Cork we can get the performance and the two points on the board.”
Dublin’s form has been hard to predict. Their two best performances came under pressure (against Tipperary and Kilkenny) and their two worst came when under little pressure (against Waterford and Offaly).
“I don’t know,” admits McCrabbe. “That has to be sorted out within the camp itself. I don’t think Anthony Daly can sort it.
“It’s to do with the players. Beating Tipperary, we were on a high, and going down to Offaly we probably thought to ourselves we should get the two points down here, after beating Tipperary. But in Division One that just doesn’t happen. Again, we have to push on ourselves from there.
“Since Anthony took over we’ve tried to make Parnell Park a fortress. We don’t want to let teams in there winning handy games. So, with Cork coming, it’s no different to any other team coming up. The main thing we have to get sorted out are our away performances, because they are not up to scratch.”
McCrabbe still feels a little fortunate to be involved in the league, following the suspected leg break in the first round match against Waterford. Fortunately, that turned out to be nothing more than bruising to the bone, and the 2009 All Star has been playing his usual high standard of late, although adopting a somewhat novel role as a drifter between the full-forward line and midfield.
“I suppose it’s league and we’re trying new things out. I suppose I haven’t been getting as much ball this year. It’s more being patient than anything else and learning how to play properly in the fullforward line, then coming out as the puck-outs come out. That’s the only time I’d get to do a bit of roaming but more or less stay in the inside forward line and try to play 15 against 15 instead of bringing the spare man out.”
Dublin beat Cork last year before the crisis with Gerald McCarthy was solved, and this time round McCrabbe admits they are a marked team. “That’s something we have to move onto now.
“We’re not used to that. Last year I think we were favourites in one game the whole of last year. If we’re to push on in the championship we need to be able to take this tag of being favourites.”
