Double-jobbing no issue for Na Fianna boss says Burke as he eyes Dublin return
Burke didn't play for Dublin in 2024 but is open to a return as his club boss Niall Ó Ceallacháin takes charge.
Na Fianna's Kevin Burke says that Niall Ó Ceallacháin hasn’t missed a beat as his period of double-jobbing intensifies.
Ó Ceallacháin was announced as the new Dublin hurling manager in September, largely on the back of his achievements with the club, who he led to a first ever county title in the small ball last year as well as a Leinster final, which they lost narrowly to O’Loughlin Gaels.
There was always a chance that they’d replicate that under him this year and so it has proved as they retained their Dublin title in dramatic fashion and saw off Clough-Ballacolla and St Martin’s to reach tomorrow’s provincial decider against Kilcormac/Killoughey at Croke Park (7.40pm).
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All the while, Ó Ceallacháin will have been busy enough with the official resumption of inter-county training on December 7, but Na Fianna’s season could extend well into January yet.
“It’s funny but it hasn’t really had an effect on us,” says Burke. “It’s been a very full-on few weeks. I’m sure it’s a lot harder for him. He’s had to juggle the two but it’s been straightforward for us.
“We’re just focusing on the one and he’s still showing up for us and the same thing that we’ve done for the Dublin Championship hasn’t changed for the Leinster Championship or anything, it’s still the same kind of process each week so tough job for him but it’s still the same for the players.”
Burke admitted he was “surprised” by Ó Ceallacháin’s appointment, which had been kept under wraps, and says he won’t be particularly hands-on.
"He's probably more of an overseer and delegator. He's brought serious structure to this Na Fianna side. It's pretty much like an inter-county set-up, which goes a long way. You can have the players but he's brought the structure as well. And you can see it has made a huge difference to us.
“That's kind of the main thing we were looking for and then you get the coaches in to help you on a few things. I think they can expect a really good, solid structure and foundation. That's where it has to start and it builds up from there. It's very exciting."
Burke himself didn’t play with Dublin this year having spent much of the year travelling but will happily take the call from his club boss if it comes.
"Yeah, I'll be around next year so if the opportunity comes, I'd love to get back involved again. The main focus is just still with the club. Obviously we have trophies that we'd love to win so that's the main focus at the minute."
Na Fianna’s breakthrough success last year was all the more remarkable for the fact that it was achieved without Burke’s brother and Dublin talisman, Donal, through injury. And he could have made all the difference in that Leinster final loss.
“It's great to have him involved again this year and hopefully he can push us on a bit further. It was tough for him watching on. He's obviously been a serious player for the club all the way up from underage so it was definitely new for him to be standing on the sideline, watching on as we played well. A lot of people wouldn't have expected us to win [the county title] without him so it was nice in a way to win it for him without him having to do any of the dog work.”
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