Updated 9.30am
DUBLIN ARE GEARING up for their Leinster championship opener against Galway on 31 May and continued their preparations with a challenge match win over Tipperary on Sunday night.
An interesting inclusion in the Dublin side was midfielder Darragh O’Connell, who made his debut with Ger Cunningham’s team.
O’Connell is a Kerry native who transferred from his home club of Abbeydorney to Dublin side Cuala this year.
He’s impressed so far in the Dublin senior hurling championship for Cuala in their group stage wins over Ballinteer St John’s and Lucan Sarsfields.
“I thought he did well for his first game in, learning what we’re trying to do and how we play,” remarked Dublin boss Ger Cunningham.
“He did a lot of very good things. He’s comfortable on the ball, shows good levels of support and he’s fit. He came in in good condition and that wouldn’t be an issue as he had a lot work done previously.
“He’s only been with us for a couple of weeks but the lads have made him feel very welcome. It was a good opportunity for us to give him a chance and see where he’s at.”
“I’d love to have him but he’s been in Dublin for the last number of years and commuting up and down,” revealed Kerry boss Eamonn Kelly.
“He’s a cracking hurler and would probably make any intercounty team. He minds himself, doesn’t drink or smoke and is in great condition.
“The way I look at it, if Dublin have 26 on their panel and there are 25 better than him, they’re very strong.”
“Last year, we had the promotion playoff with Offaly in Thurles and Darragh was head and shoulders the best player on view, man of the match. If I had him, I’d feel we’d have a very strong chance of winning the Christy Ring.
“He’s an awful loss to us but I fully understand his reasons for going as well.”
O’Connell was one of Kerry’s leading players when lining out for the Kingdom. He struck 1-9 from wing-forward in their 2011 Christy Ring Cup final win over Wicklow.
His versatility was demonstrated by his appearance on half-back line for Kerry when they lost the 2013 Christy Ring Cup final to Down and he was midfield when they lost last year’s decider against Kildare.
In 2012 O’Connell won a Ryan Cup medal on a Mary Immaculate College side that also included Galway’s Conor Cooney and the Waterford duo of Shane O’Sullivan and Brian O’Halloran.
Additional reporting by Jackie Cahill
Well deserved. Without a doubt the best rugby coach in the World. Hope we can hang onto him after we win the World Cup.
6 nations title, two Southern Hemisphere “scalps” and a 6 place jump in the world rankings. Utterly deserving of this accolade.
Joe is a legend.
Well deserved brillant coach.
Richly deserved. I wonder how many votes he beat Roddy Collins by.
i wonder does joe know anything about running a country??
Joe is the man!!!!!
I hope if we don’t win the World Cup New Zealand will. If NZ get rid of their manager there is only one man they will want.
There’s no show like a Joe show.
Jim Gavin surely a typo!!!! Masterminded a Leinster championship!!
Jim gavin lost 1 game in 2 yrs…thats why
Eamon fitz lost 1 game in 2 years aswel so if thats the case
I think Brian Cody deserves to be mentioned above Jim Gavin. He couldn’t have won anymore this year but Joe definitely deserves it after the year he and his Irish team had with hopefully more success to come next year.
Jim Gavin, surely a typo
Jim Gavin?!! Surely a typo
As did e Fitz!
Gavin being nominated for Manager of this year? 2014? He won a provincial championship in a province without another Top level team, and didn’t win the all Ireland as “pre-appointed” champions before a ball was kicked. Eamonn Fitz surely miles ahead
Gavin won the April prize after the Dubs won the National League title. Paul McGinley won the September award for the Ryder Cup which is why Eamonn Fitzmaurice wasn’t on the list.
Renew his contract now IRFU!