Advertisement
There's speculation about Danny Sutcliffe's intercounty future this morning. Cathal Noonan/INPHO

'Hurling doesn't need to lose Danny Sutcliffe' - Former Dubs boss urges star not to quit

Danny Sutcliffe could be leaving the Dublin hurling panel but one former manager says he should stay.

FORMER DUBLIN SENIOR hurling team manager Michael Oโ€™Grady has urged Danny Sutcliffe not to make any hasty decisions about his intercounty future.

The Irish Independent is reporting this morning that the 2013 Allstar is considering quitting the Sky Blues.

Sutcliffeโ€™s departure, if it happens, would be a massive blow to boss Ger Cunningham as he plans for 2016.

Sutcliffe, 23, is widely regarded as one of the finest young talents in the country and he played a key role in helping St Judeโ€™s to a Dublin SHC final appearance this year.

Oisin Gough with Danny Sutcliffe and Joe McManus Danny Sutcliffe (centre) in action for St Jude's against Cuala. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Oโ€™Grady believes that Sutcliffe has the potential to become a future Hurler of the Year and could captain the county team in the coming years.

โ€œObviously nobody can afford to lose anybody of Dannyโ€™s calibre,โ€ Oโ€™Grady told The42 this morning.

โ€œI presume there will be a few retirements but Danny, in his own mind, didnโ€™t have a great year. I thought he had an average year.

โ€œHe had a great start but he hasnโ€™t really been up to form for the last 12 months, for club or county.

โ€œSometimes you do struggle after having a great year. He was an Allstar in 2013, injured in 2014.

โ€œI know the guy, not too well, but heโ€™s an outstanding young man with high ambitions for himself.

โ€œHe probably wasnโ€™t happy with his performances this year but that has happened.

โ€œLook at TJ Reid in Kilkenny, thought about giving it up at one stage at county level but I believe it was Henry (Shefflin) who got him to stay on board.โ€

Michael O'Grady 18/6/2000 Former Dublin boss Michael O'Grady. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

And Oโ€™Grady has tipped Sutcliffe to recover his form and achieve big things with Dublin -if he remains on board.

โ€œIโ€™ve no doubt in the wide world that Danny Sutcliffe will be a Hurler of the Year in time with Dublin. I think he will captain Dublin, he has everything that Dublin need.

โ€œI would encourage him (to stay), everybody has a tough time and things donโ€™t happen as you would want.

โ€œI would encourage him to stay on board because if he stands down, it would put him back four or five years.

โ€œHe has been below par but that wasnโ€™t for the want of effort. In my book, he might be trying too hard but Danny has ten more years of playing with Dublin and to pull away for a while now wouldnโ€™t be good.

Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

โ€œDublin need him and hopefully Christmas might help him to focus his thoughts and set new goals.

โ€œDanny should stay onboard, hurling doesnโ€™t need to lose Danny Sutcliffe.

โ€œLike winter, spring will follow and spring will follow very soon. Heโ€™s one of the best hurlers in Ireland, got an Allstar two years ago, and Iโ€™d encourage him to get over the Winter and get back into it, playing his part in keeping Dublin in Division 1 and having a great championship.โ€

Mayoโ€™s Pearce Hanley has signed another new Aussie Rules deal

Kearney stars as Milltown claim historic victory

Close
5 Comments
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.