Crummey calls on Dubs to take home comforts from Parnell Park
THE Dublin footballers may be set for another season of home comforts in the ‘Super 8s’ but the county’s hurling captain Chris Crummey is keen to make Parnell Park a fortress for his side.
Mattie Kenny’s men take on Laois in Donnycarney this weekend in the last of their scheduled league matches but it is the summer championship games there against Wexford and Galway that will have the biggest influence on whether their season is deemed a success.
Crummey is hopeful that good performances in Parnell Park will lead to big days out down the road in Croke Park after they failed to emerge from Leinster last summer.
“Our main focus is championship and we have to make sure we make a Leinster final and to make sure we win our home games,” said Crummey.
“In the short term we know our home games in championship will be in Parnell Park and that’s the focus at the moment, make sure we pick up our wins there. We have our great support there.
“Then obviously hopefully we get to the latter stages in Croke Park and hopefully we do well there as well.”
During the week it was confirmed that former Dublin football captain Dessie Farrell is part of the hurlers’ backroom team.
Dealings
“He has only been involved the last few weeks so I haven’t had too many dealings with him,” Crummey said.
“But he is a person with massive management experience and playing experience and he captained Dublin for five years and he has so much knowledge in an elite sport at a high level and he’s there in an advisory role to Mattie and to us.
“It’s great to have him involved and we are looking forward to working with him.”
With Farrell on board Crummey insists everything is in place for Dublin to deliver on their potential.
“There is a brilliant management team in place, they really facilitate the players performing on the pitch.
“It’s up to us as players to make sure we do perform because we have everything provided and it is great to have such a professional set-up.”
Crummey’s performances last year earned him an All-Star nomination but he’s hoping there will be more reasons to celebrate this year.
“It was a great honour for me, my family and club. It’s not something you go out at the start of the year and focus on but when it does come along and you look back it is good recognition.
“This year hopefully there will be a lot more lads getting nominated and getting All-Stars and that can only happen if our team performance is right and we get further on in the championship.”