A SURVEY, conducted in the immediate aftermath of last September's All Ireland hurling final, indicated how the GAA could best continue the extraordinary pattern set by Clare and Wexford over the last two years. The suggestion - predictably from a thoroughly biased sample - was Dublin.

At the start of the 1990s, it was Dublin that created the first waves of a memorable decade. By reaching two Leinster finals and establishing a regular spot in Division One, the county looked to be on the move. A big population accustomed to lending mass support to the footballers was obvious territory for expansion.

Unfortunately, nothing happened and Leinster hurling - then quite sickly - improved to the extent that three counties from the province have won the All Ireland this decade.

Dublin's renaissance began to look like nothing more than a symptom of Leinster's bad patch since when, six years ago, Dublin have failed to win a single championship match.

Hopes are now rising that this decline will end when the newly scheduled hurling season gets underway in March. Last autumn, Michael O'Grady was appointed as manager of the Dublin hurlers.

O'Grady, from Patrickswell in Limerick but now living and teaching in Dublin, might be described as a hurling guru but without the pejorative connotations of such a sobriquet. He has coached both Tipperary and Limerick to the National League, managed Wexford and acted in an advisory capacity with the Antrim side that reached the 1989 All Ireland.

"I was asked to get involved and after much reflection I said I would," says O'Grady of his Dublin duties. "I love the game of hurling and found the victories of Clare and Wexford very inspiring. I see what's happening at juvenile level and the great effort being made at club level and I think Dublin will reap the reward.

"I always felt that Dublin hurlers weren't far behind in terms of skill. They can beat most teams on a good day and have done in the past. They haven't won anything in over 30 years and that's a challenge that has energised me."

He is very supportive of the new hurling calendar which will see league and championship running in conjunction for the early past of the summer.

"I've no time for winter hurling. Hurling in October and November is a different game to hurling in June and July. A tad who'll play well in November will be no use to you in the summer. This year, Dublin will have seven good league matches.

"It's a great chance for weaker teams who in the past have been getting only one match between March and October - their championship first round which they would lose. Between this March and October, every team will get at least eight matches.

There have been obvious inspirations provided by the recent winners of the All Ireland. Wexford, Clare and Offaly aren't counties that would have inhibited Dublin. In addition, there are the specific precedents which will influence O'Grady and Dublin.

All three teams worked on mastering a particular style, moving the ball fast and directly. O'Grady remains sceptical about the role of tactical variation but has noticed other aspects of these recent successes.

"Various managers brought extra dimensions. The early morning training, getting personalities from other sports to talk to the team, the psychological build up. It's all needed and our lads do expect these different dimensions. Getting heads right is one of the biggest tasks.

"Hurling is so fast, there are very few tactics. If your guy is first to the ball and uses it, there's nothing your opponent can do. I want a fit team getting to the ball quickly. First touch is very important and Dublin in the past have been maybe sluggish in getting the ball away fast. I also believe in team play, playing for others, calling for passes and running into space. We have lots of work to do on ball control - hurlers can never do enough hurling."

Dublin have a useful batch of players at their disposal. The former Kilkenny pair, Eamonn Morrissey and Jamesie Brennan, have been able to add All Ireland winning experience to the panel. The county's only hurling All Star in recent times, Brian McMahon, has returned after a break from the game - "His appetite is back," says O'Grady. "He's really putting in an effort and enjoying himself."

The coach is very optimistic. "There's no doubt there's enough of hurlers and fabulous structures for development. Dublin are going to win an All Ireland soon, I mean within the next eight years."

Who knows these days in hurling?