Eddie Gibbons enjoying Dublin adventure

Click here to listen to the full interview with Dublin senior hurling goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons.

By Cian O'Connell

Undoubtedly, the Leinster decider brought plenty of pain, but Eddie Gibbons is encouraged that the Dublin hurlers are relevant again.

Saturday's All-Ireland SHC Quarter-Final against Clare at FBD Semple Stadium is the next challenge to embrace for Dublin, who delivered at that stage of the competition 12 months ago.

A stirring win over Limerick at Croke Park illustrated Dublin's potential under Niall Ó Ceallacháin.

So, to lose the recent provincial decider against Galway hurt deeply. "It was hugely disappointing," Gibbons says.

"To be fair, we were pretty happy with our preparations coming into the game, even our form in the previous games coming into it. So, we were pretty shocked and disappointed with how things unfolded. We've to turn our attention now to Clare."

Gibbons acknowledges that Galway's blistering start was crucial. "I think it was, I think in previous game we were the ones that instigated our game plan and started well," the Kilmacud Crokes custodian responds.

"On this occasion Galway did and it set the tone for the rest of the game."

During the Leinster round robin, Dublin's connection with a growing army of supporters was evident in wins over Galway and Kilkenny. "I think the Kilkenny game showed that a lot," Gibbons reflects.

"We were playing in a sold out Parnell Park which is absolutely brilliant. I think the support followed into Croker. They came in huge numbers, but unfortunately we couldn't give them the performance that we would have wanted."

During his underage days, Gibbons hurled outfield for Crokes, but started playing as a goalkeeper with Coláiste Eoin and on Dublin Academy teams. "I'd have played outfield with Crokes up until I was 20," Gibbons says.

"In secondary school in Coláiste Eoin, I started playing in goal when I was 13. I played with development squads in goal. There was a period when I was doing a bit of both, but now it's full-time goalkeeping."

Did the blend aid his development as a 'keeper? "I think so, that piece about being comfortable on the ball," Gibbons replies.

"You see how much 'keepers are used from open play now, the way the game has gone. I think that has definitely stood to me."

Coláiste Eoin had a significant influence on Gibbons in different ways. "It was hugely important, I think if you walk into that school at lunchtime or something like that you'd see hundreds of kids pucking with their hurls and stuff," Gibbons says.

"That piece where you've your hurl in your hand everyday stands to a lot of players. You can see the amount of Dublin players it does produce.

"Aodan De Paor, he teaches there, he was the main hurling coach when I was there. He did huge work with hurling and developed so many players, huge credit has to go to him."

The Irish language matters deeply to Gibbons. "It definitely does, it's a huge part of our culture and our heritage," Gibbons says.

"It's a brilliant school that shows a lot of that, among other things, you've music, Gaelic Football, loads of different things."