Dublin manager Micheál Donoghue during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Dublin and Antrim at Parnell Park in Dublin
DUBLIN hurlers might not have anticipated topping the Leinster championship table after three rounds but manager Micheál Donoghue insists there is no danger of his side getting carried away.
The players were still showering after their 20-point demolition of Antrim at Parnell Park when word filtered through that Carlow had sensationally held Kilkenny to a draw.
As a result Dublin are one point ahead of the Cats in the table ahead of their showdown at the Donnycarney venue next Saturday evening.
“The message to the group the whole time has been there are five games. Today’s game was always going to be game three.
“I know outside it was built up to something more than what we had done internally. We had to do a job. We now focus on recovery and get ready for next weekend.”
Dublin’s two remaining matches are against Kilkenny and Galway. So understandably he dismissed the idea that his side has virtually locked down a place in the Liam MacCarthy series.
“It is too early to say. Our vibe to the lads it that we have got to stay going. It is the old cliché take one at a time. I think there will be (more) twists and turns so we focus on ourselves.”
Donoghue said he was obviously happy with the performance.
“The last two weeks have been grand for us. They recovered well and there was a lot of energy in the group this week which we obviously needed, and it was replicated in the performance.”
As it was the team’s first home game in the championship, they had put a lot of emphasis on it, he said.
“It was great to come back and give a performance like that and ultimately get the win.
“We started well but would have been disappointed with the goal we conceded midway through the first half to bring them back into it.
“At the start of the second half they brought it back to four but we dominated after. We were able to run the squad which was really important and everybody contributed.
“We will now focus on recovery, get back at it early next week and then focus on the game next weekend.”
