Whitehall’s Eoghan O’Donnell rubber stamps his new Dublin Boss.
He’s not wasting any time in getting up and running. It appears that new county Hurling boss Mattie Kenny has already met with some of his key players to discuss his vision for 2019.
The new campaign will start as early as next month. Dublin take on Carlow, Offaly and Lapis in the round robin stages of the Bord Na Mona Walsh Cup. And the competition commences on December 9th.
Whitehall Colmcille defender Eoghan O’Donnell admits that the loss of Pat Gilroy was akin to a death in the family. The young Dublin Hurler was in Croatia back in September when Gilroy called to break the news.
“I thought it was one of the lads taking the pi** out of me, I couldn’t believe it at all.” O’Donnell told the Herald.
“Before Pat rang there was a buzz that I have never seen around Dublin hurling, lads couldn’t wait to get back to the gym and it was August and lads were meeting to do programs and do hill runs in Phoenix Park.”
Checking out The New Boss
Having only met Mattie Kenny once, Eoghan did what anyone else would have done. He contacted some of Kenny’s Cuala players for the inside scoop.
It’s a bit like they’re a bit brainwashed,” he laughed, “they’re just saying that the sun shines from everywhere from him!”
“Mattie probably was the first choice between the players, his record speaks for itself.”
And last weekend Kenny met up with a few of his new panel in the Clayton Hotel to discuss the new regime. O’Donnell was in attendance.
“[Kenny] made it clear that this isn’t a transition period, we are going to build on what happened last year and we won’t reinvent the wheel”.
“I’m sure it’ll take a small bit of adjusting for him but his expertise from the meeting itself looks very positive.
“Everyone is delighted, all the backroom team around him, all the players are available, we’re delighted with how it’s shaping up so far.”