Donal Óg Cusack hails ‘dominant’ Dublin after emphatic win against Tipp
RTÉ’s League Sunday switched its attention to hurling with the opening round of the Allianz National Hurling League taking place over the weekend, and the panel focused on
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Donal Óg Cusack felt Ger Cunningham’s men fully deserved their victory, with the final scoreline Dublin 2-20 Tipperary 0-14 and said the Munster side never looked like winning the game.
“Dublin were totally in control today and really impressive,” Cusack said. “They were dominant throughout the field.
“You could say that Tipperary really failed to show up today in a lot of different areas. They didn’t seem to have a great way about them.”
“Everything you talk about at this time of year needs to be with the caveat that it’s early days,” he added, but said his fellow Cork man Cunningham seemed to be leading the Dubs in the right direction.
“He’s a really professional, organised guy and he’ll want to put his own mark on the team.”
Cunningham said he was very pleased with the win in his post-match interview and spoke about establishing a ‘fortress’ of Dublin hurling.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “We’re trying to build a fortress up here, we have three matches in Dublin, two here and one in Croke Park.
“It’s important to try and win your home matches if you can, it gives a good base to work from.”
Cusack said the new manager had tried 33 players between the Walsh Cup and yesterday’s game and the experimentation was paying off in key areas.
“Full-back is a position they could have did a bit better in over the last few years,” he said. “Michael Carton, in a college’s game I saw, and in the game today has looked really good.
“What I liked about him - he was very composed in there. He’s an excellent hurler, done well out at half back over the last couple of years and he never panicked. A lot of his play actually set up some good scores for Dublin.”
He continued: “He was really impressive today and it allows Dublin to move. If Peter Kelly can hold down the centre-back position and another man, Liam Rushe, they’ve got a good spine to the team there. And Alan Nolan was really good today in goals.”
Cusack also singled out Rushe for particular praise.
“He can win ball, he’s got good vision and good guts to take on people,” he said of the forward. “
By having a big target man up there, it just changes to whole point of attack for Dublin. When under pressure, if you’re able to launch it up to a big full-forward - it’s a great outlet to have.”
Cunningham acknowledged that next week would provide a much sterner test for Dublin, taking on All-Ireland and League champions Kilkenny on their home turf.
“We have a big challenge now next Sunday, heading down to Nolan Park.”
But Cusack’s fellow panellist, ex-Kilkenny hurler Michael Kavanagh, believed the Dubs would give the Cats a good game in Round Two.
“Ger Cunningham seems to be doing a great job,” he said. “Early days, but they’ll relish the challenge of going down to Nolan Park and taking on Kilkenny in their backyard.
“It’ll be another test for them, but (Cunningham) is really putting his mark on this team.”
The programme also covered the meetings of
