McCaffrey succeeded Stephen Hiney as captain after the Ballyboden St Enda's clubman was forced to relinquish the position due to injury.

Dublin secured their first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 title in 72 years less than two months later, and also reached the All-Ireland semi-final later that summer.

However, 2012 was a less than successful year for the Dubs and McCaffrey is hoping that his side can make a positive start to the new season with victory in the Bord na Móna Walsh Cup on Friday night.

"Every game we go out in this year we want to win and we want to put in a big performance on Friday," explained McCaffrey at today's launch of the Allianz Leagues Spring Series.

"The next game is the most important game and that is UCD for us. We will hopefully be putting a performance in that will get us a victory."

Dublin have been active on the challenge game circuit of late with their most recent contest being a win over Tipperary in Nenagh yesterday.

McCaffrey has been impressed with the new blood coming into the side in these games, including Chris Crummey in defence.

"The younger lads who have come in to the squad have really pushed the more experienced lads on and brought a great bit of freshness to the whole thing as well," he said.

"With a new squad everyone is working really hard for each other and it has been a breath of fresh air and it's great for everyone involved.

"Whoever performs well on any given day will get to keep their jersey for the next day.

"That's the way you want to be as a player. If you play well, you want to get rewarded the next day. That's what has been happening so far and it's important to hit the ground running."