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David Treacy: ‘It has been a great experience’

David Treacy pictured at the launch of Lá na gClubanna at Croke Park.

David Treacy pictured at the launch of Lá na gClubanna at Croke Park.

By Cian O’Connell

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To plant Cuala’s red and white flag on the summit of the AIB Senior Club Hurling game mattered deeply to David Treacy.

The St Patrick’s Day success over Ballyea provided another sharp reminder of the distance Cuala have travelled during the past decade.

A team sprinkled with sons from the 1989, 1991, and 1994 Dublin SHC winning crop, Cuala’s rejuvenation in the capital has been achieved through sheer hard graft.

“It was the best week of my life, simply put,” Treacy admitted when speaking at the launch of Lá na gClubanna 2017. “You always dream of winning an All Ireland for Dublin, that has you playing out in the back garden thinking about playing for Dublin on the big days. Never did I dream I would be able to do something like that with Cuala.

“All we wanted to do was to win a Dublin Championship. That is what our father's did, my dad, Paul Schuttes dad, Cian and Con's (O'Callaghan) dad. There was always that bit of competitiveness because they had three Championships.

“Winning in Dublin was always the aim, then Mattie Kenny came onboard, he added that self belief. We have a lot of talent there, we were able to get over the line for the Dublin Championship.”

Treacy acknowledges the connection and bond that exists within Cuala. “One hundred per cent, the likes of Oisin Gough, Paul Schutte, myself would have played with one another since we were six,” Treacy says.

“I think we had five sets of brothers on the team, it is that togetherness, that fraternity you have is really unique. Over the last, probably two years it has been a great experience.”

Remaining serious competitors at the highest level, though, is the challenge Cuala have set themselves according to Treacy. “It is something we want to build upon and to hopefully continue to succeed. If you stop you are going backwards as Mattie Kenny would say. We are looking ahead. This may never happen again so we will do our utmost to keep this train moving.

“This window of opportunity may only be two or three years, it may not even be that and it may never happen again. We have to do everything in our power to put ourselves in a position to keep it moving.”

Tony Kelly, Clare, and David Treacy, Dublin, in action at Cusack Park last Sunday.

Tony Kelly, Clare, and David Treacy, Dublin, in action at Cusack Park last Sunday.

Treacy returned to competitive action with Dublin in last Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play/off against Clare at Cusack Park. Dublin were relegated, but the manner in which so many newcomers performed for Ger Cunningham’s young team augurs well.

“We were pressed up against the glass watching what was going on,” Treacy admits. “We were still members of the WhatsApp group, we were still talking to the guys every week. It wasn't as if we went off doing nothing, we were always in constant talks seeing how they were getting on.

“There are huge positives there. You are taking seven or eight players out of the panel, the Cuala contingent that gave younger lads an opportunity and so many have taken it. The likes of Donal Burke coming through, asking a guy that young to hit the frees for his county is a huge ask.

“As a freetaker myself I know that can be very daunting and he came through, he flew through it. He is a brilliant find. The same with Eoghan O'Donnell, he has made that full back position his own and has become a huge leader at the age of 21.

"With us being absent it gav the younger lads an opportunity. Barring a couple of points and key moments in matches we could have come away with a few extra wins. It is that positivity that we are hoping to come in, to row in behind.

“Hopefully we can bring the experience we learned from our AIB Club Championship into the set-up, to re-invigorate everything, to get everything moving again.”

Despite dropping down to Division 1B Treacy is optimistic ahead of next month’s interesting Leinster Championship clash with Galway. “We would always treat the Allianz Leagues as a precursor for Championship,” Treacy states.

“If we are going well in the Leagues, putting in good performances, it is a good omen for the Championship. Others use it differently.

“The gap is narrowing between 1A and 1B as teams are bridging the gap between the perceived top two or three teams. It is our job next year, first of all, to get back into Division 1A, but we have huge positives looking ahead to the Championship. I'm looking forward to it.”