Ian O'Riordantalks to optimistic Dublin manager Tommy Naughton

Among the many telltale signs of Dublin's continued progress in hurling - making Leinster under-21 and minor finals, Castleknock winning the All-Ireland Féile - was the sight this week of a youngster walking through the leafy suburbs of Clonskeagh with a hurl under his arm.

Clonskeagh, for those who don't know it, would be one of Dublin's traditional hurling wastelands. And this kind of development is what excites Dublin senior hurling manager Tommy Naughton.

"We're reaching the stage now where hurling is more popular than ever all over Dublin," says Naughton. "We are seeing youngsters walking around now with a hurl in places you would never see it before, not just around Donnycarney and places like that. And that's great credit to all the coaches who have gone into the schools and made the game more popular.

" Castleknock's win will do a lot for that area as well. So we do have a lot more youngsters now starting to love hurling, or at least wanting to try it."

But Naughton knows the success of his team can exert perhaps the greatest influence on hurling in the county - and if they could break through as genuine All-Ireland contenders then hurling would simply explode around Dublin. He believes they're getting there, slowly but surely, the latest test of that being Saturday's opening qualifier match against Cork in Parnell Park.

Dublin haven't played Cork in the championship since losing the 1952 All-Ireland final, and Saturday's game is part of another pivotal weekend for hurling in the county. On Sunday, the Dublin minors face Kilkenny in the Leinster final in Croke Park, chasing a second provincial title in three years. Hope and expectation surrounds both teams.

"Our mood is good, very good, going into these qualifiers," adds Naughton, suggesting no hangover from the one-point semi-final loss to Wexford. "We have three big matches ahead of us, and anything could happen. Of course we are playing some of the best teams in the country, but that's exactly where we want to be, and for sure this Cork game is a great opportunity to find out exactly where we are.

"Everyone has been saying to me we can expect a Cork backlash after what went on in the Munster championship, the suspensions and all that, but we can only worry about our performance, and make sure we play as well as we can. We already know how good a team Cork are, a fantastic team. They've played in the last four All-Ireland finals and won two of them.

"It's the first of three very big games for us, and of course we do hope to get something out of them. I hope from everyone's point of view they won't be predictable, and I don't think they will. Like I think Offaly are definitely ready to give Tipperary a big game."

Unfortunately for Naughton he's without two first-choice players for Saturday, with highly-talented midfielder John McCaffrey still sidelined with a groin strain, and defender Derek O'Reilly also ruled out with a hamstring strain - while young forward Kevin O'Reilly remains a long-term absentee.

"Of course John is a loss, but I just feel sorry for him. The injury has dragged on for a number of weeks now and he's trying everything to get it sorted - rest, and injections. It may need an operation, so it's really just disappointing for him."

"Derek O'Reilly is still not 100 per cent, but this is all part and parcel of championship hurling. Ger O'Meara, his replacement, has been there before and that's why it's so important to have a strong panel." Several of Naughton's panel on Sunday featured in the recent under-21 semi-final win over Wexford, including defender Tomás Brady, midfielder Joey Boland and forward Ross O'Carroll.

"It's a fantastic plus for us, getting into the under-21 final. And the same with the minors, who beat a very good Wexford team in their semi-final. I know there was a lot of time and effort invested in that Wexford team. For Dublin to come through that says a lot about the work being done behind the scenes here. These are all small steps, and hopefully some day they will all come together for the seniors."