Gaelic Games/Hurling news: With headlines including "dire" and "disappointing" Dublin, and continuing rumblings of player discontent, it's a wonder Humphrey Kelleher hasn't gone into hiding.
After Sunday's 16-point loss to Galway comes Saturday's home game against Clare, and few expect a more favourable result. Dublin hurling is once again struggling, and struggling badly.
Yet Kelleher is happy to face any criticism thrown at him. The Dublin manager is well aware of the popular perception, and agrees this league is going to be hard, but his optimism and belief in his team remains steadfast.
"I know some people must be laughing at me at this stage," says Kelleher, "and the temptation is always there to go out and satisfy the pundits. But we cannot be distracted from what our ultimate aim is.
"We put this programme together, which right now is based around heavy-duty, physical work. That's two nights in the gym and two out on the field. I've been saying all along that Dublin needs to get physically stronger. We could back off now, but that would defeat the whole purpose. We've spoken with the players and every one of them agreed we had to stick with it. But we will ease off on the physical end of things by April, and only then will it start to pay off."
That catch-22 is compounded by the fact that 10 of Kelleher's more established players are still out with injury. Free-taker David Curtin will return for Saturday's game at Parnell Park, but youth and inexperience will dominate for several more weeks.
Such a large absentee list inevitably creates talk of player dissatisfaction, but again Kelleher is defiant: "And all this talk about dissent in the camp is completely unfounded. I would tell anyone to talk with any player and they'll tell you the spirit is as good as it's ever been over the last couple of years.
"We had 100 per cent turnout of players available on Tuesday night, so people need to have patience. Dublin hurling is in worse condition than people think. I put together a three-year plan, and 2005 was about fully implementing the necessary preparations. In 2006, we'll be at the stage where we have that strength preparation behind us."
Clearly Kelleher's hand has been weakened by the defection of Conal Keaney and David O'Callaghan to football, but what really upsets him is the way the county can quickly dismiss hurling as a hopeless cause.
"It would be nice, though, if we got some level of support. I know we won't get more than a couple of hundred people in Parnell Park on Saturday, and I think Dublin hurling deserves more. Certainly not me, but the players, who are preparing practically like professionals.
"But I'm staying positive about it. We are going through a huge transition and I'm not giving up. And I'm assured by the people that matter we're doing the right thing."
The Dublin footballers will probably get better support when they play Monaghan in a challenge game on Saturday evening, which takes place under lights at the Clanna Gael grounds in Ringsend. That game will be significant for the return of Colin Moran after an eight-month absence because of a broken arm.
Moran is named at left half back, while manager Paul Caffrey also gives starting places to under-21 duo Aidan Downes and Niall Cooper in the defence, Kilmacud Crokes' Conor Murphy at midfield, and Gareth Smith, Declan Lally and Derek Byrne in the forward line.
In other hurling news, Henry Shefflin will be fit for Sunday's league clash with Galway at Nowlan Park. Shefflin broke down at training last Wednesday with a groin injury and missed Kilkenny's first win over Waterford.
All-Ireland champions Cork make two changes for their visit to Wexford. Brian Murphy, the 2004 young hurler of the year, takes over the right corner back position from John Browne, who has tonsillitis, while Ben O'Connor's place among the forwards goes to Kieran Murphy. O'Connor underwent minor knee surgery earlier this week, but is expected to be back in action within three weeks.
CORK (SH v Wexford): D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, P Mulcahy; G Callinan, R Curran, S Ó hAilpin; T Kenny, J O'Connor; J O'Callaghan, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, N Ronan, J Deane.
DUBLIN (SF v Monaghan): B Murphy; A Downes, M Fitzpatrick, B Cahill; N Cooper, J Magee, C Moran; D Bastic, C Murphy; D Lally, L Ó hEineacháin, J McNally; G Smith, R Cosgrove, D Byrne.
