Former Galway hurling coach Anthony Cunningham has joined the Dublin management team for the upcoming season. Cunningham will operate as Pat Gilroy's number 2, an announcement that was expected for the past few weeks.
The backroom team also includes Mickey Whelan and Paddy O'Donoghue, both members of Gilroy's coaching side when they won Sam Maguire in 2011. Whelan coached the St. Vincent's hurling team for the past two years and is a key figure in understanding the club game. Gilroy has been involved with Vincent's as both player and coach and is familar with Whelan through the club.
Cunningham has been attending Dublin club games recently and will add a further dimension to the coaching ticket having coached at Inter-county for four years. Cunningham brought Galway to an All-Ireland final twice and led the side to their first ever Leinster hurling championship.
Mickey Whelan, Anthony Cunningham and Paddy O'Donoghue confirmed as Pat Gilroy's selectors for the Dublin senior hurlers. Whelan and O'Donoghue were both selectors with Gilroy when he was football manager
— ConorMcKeon (@ConorMcKn) November 15, 2017
Gilroy has been bullish in his ambition for Dublin hurling, stating he categorically wants the county consistently in the top four in Ireland. He is credited with bringing a level of organisation and structure to the Dublin footballers that saw them clinch the 2011 All-Ireland. It is a similar structure that he wants to introduce to the hurlers.
He is set to establish a dedicated base for the team, in a similar vein to "the bunker" he established for the Footballers at DCU. The Independent have reported the GAA’s Centre of Excellence in Abbotstown is being eyed with a hope that it will host the hurlers.
Cunningham for his part was recently involved with the Laois footballers. In his recruitment of a coaching panel Gilroy has wisely selected hurling brains to accompany his own practical prowess. It appears Gilroy will operate as a head director/CEO type role with his surrounding team taking care of technicalities.
Cunningham's time in charge of Galway ended acrimoniously after the player's ousted him from his role. That caveat will make Dublin's first game with Cunningham involved all the more interesting as Dublin take on Galway in the AIG Fenway Classic in Boston this Sunday.
In fantastic news for the new management team, former Dublin All-Star Danny Sutcliffe has been named in the squad for that game. Sutcliffe had opted out of previous squads while Ger Cunningham was in charge, but returns the panel after a two year absence.
That's a massive boost for Gilroy and his team, with Sutcliffe being the most high profile of the notable absentees from the squad under Cunningham. Dublin fans will hope it's just the start of the returns as the team look to get back to their best.
SEE ALSO: Five-Time All-Ireland Winner Denis Bastick Retires From Inter-County Football
