Ronan Hayes remains bullish as to what the Dublin hurlers can achieve this year despite suffering a raft of defections.
Manager Micheal Donoghue, who is midway through his first League campaign at the helm, commented recently that he is down as many as 10 players from last year’s panel, including the likes of Cian O’Callaghan, Chris Crummey, Liam Rushe, Sean Moran, Mark Schutte and Alan Nolan, some of whom have gone travelling.
Key forward Hayes is currently out of action too having suffered a hamstring in the League opener against Waterford, which Dublin drew. Since then they have beaten Antrim and lost to Tipperary.
“It is obviously disappointing to see lads step away,” Hayes said. “I think the nature of it, you become close friends with them and you get on really well with a lot of the lads who are there - they are involved for the right reasons.
“But you also respect the fact that there is other stuff outside of hurling and they have other goals that they want to achieve, experiences that they want to have in life, so you respect their decision to step away and you would never begrudge them it.
“It’s definitely difficult losing some key players as well. They weren’t fringe players or lads who weren’t heavily involved. These were key players for us for the last number of years.
“It was tough to see them go, but you obviously respect their decision.”
In the three seasons that the Leinster round robin has been in place, Dublin have only managed to break out of the group once, in 2019, and that was followed by a shock defeat to Laois in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
But Hayes is optimistic that they can kick on in the Championship and secure a top three finish in the Leinster group this year, notwithstanding the talent drain.
“Yeah absolutely. Last year was an odd one in that we only found we were knocked out in the group stages come the final whistle down in Salthill.
“That was tough to take. I definitely think there is an expectation amongst ourselves and the group as to where we want to get to and our goals for the year.
“I think if you asked someone else, they might have a different opinion of us.
“I think that within ourselves, within the group and management team, we would have high expectations of ourselves and high standards of ourselves.”
Hayes fears that he may not see action for the rest of the League due to his injury, which was suffered within five minutes of coming off the bench against Waterford in the League opener.
“I think the child comes out in you when you are not allowed to play.
“You kind of get impatient and you want to play. I have definitely experienced that maybe for the first couple of weeks.
“Less so now where the sort of deadline when I need to be back for is approaching. Eager to play, like anyone else.
“Even if you are not injured, you just want to be on the pitch playing.”
The Kilmacud Crokes man was involved with his club right up to Christmas as they reached the Leinster final, though he played down suggestions that he may not have given himself a sufficient break.
“I am not sure if it really was. It is just sport. These things happen where people get injured.
“It could have been anything. It could have been a broken finger, a broken hand, it just happened to be a muscle injury.
“I don’t think it was a case of I was rushed back in any way. Like I said, it wasn’t a pressure situation. Maybe my own fault and a bit of naivety that I was eager to play.
“I don’t see it of being a result of the schedule or any sort of time issue.”
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