Dublin Celtic Challenge hurlers Scott Cassidy Walker, right, and Callum Dee during the launch of the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Dublin GAA Hurling Development Officer, Colm Burtchaell, has hailed the positive impact of the Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge.
The developmental U-17 hurling competition was established in 2016 and sees teams initially compete in a group phase after which teams are graded for a knock-out stage so that every team has an opportunity to compete at their own level and win some silverware.
“The Celtic Challenge has been great from a Dublin point of view,” says Burtchaell. “Every year we've done it the feedback has been positive. I think it's a very cleverly-designed tournament in that we've had teams that maybe lost their first three matches in it and might have taken one heavy beating but then the knock-out stages pair together teams that are of a similar ability.
“We've had teams that lost their first three matches and then won their next three matches and won silverware. Not that it's all about winning, but they got to experience all ends of it.
“I think that end of it where you're still in it even if you lose a few matches is great. You're still in it playing against teams of a similar standard to yourself and that's one of the secrets to the success of the Celtic Challenge.”
The 2024 Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge started last weekend and this year’s competition sees teams from all 32 counties compete.
Dublin’s first match against North Cork was unfortunately postponed due to the inclement weather so after that false start they’ll start their campaign on Saturday against Derry.
Conor Regan of Dublin in action against Richie Harney of East Cork during the GAA Celtic Challenge Cup Finals match between East Cork and Dublin at St Brendan’s Park in Birr, Offaly. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.
Dublin use the competition to take a closer look at players who are on the fringes of the county minor panel or didn’t make the cut, and Burthchaell fully expects some of Dublin’s class of ’24 to use the competition as a launch-pad for even greater things in the future.
“There's different tiers to it from a Dublin point of view,” he says. “We've had lots of guys go on and play U20 and even senior for Dublin afterwards. We've had guys that haven't made that particular year's minor panel but really benefited from playing in the Celtic Challenge and went on from there to represent Dublin.
“We're trying to foster an environment where not making a minor panel isn't the end of the world. Playing for the Dublin minors is a stepping stone but it's not the be all and end all. The Celtic Challenge is a great vehicle for that and we're able to point back over the last few years at lads that didn't make the minor panel without a detrimental effect on their long-term career.
“Even guys that may not have selected on a minor panel in January or February and went particularly well in the Celtic Challenge as the competition went on and were brought back in to the minor panel.
“Like all sports, it's very form based, and you can have young lads that might not have been going very well in January and February but find their form in March, April, May. If you didn't have the Celtic Challenge they probably wouldn't have had a window to showcase their improvement.
“You could lose those lads very easily if you didn't keep them involved at county level in some shape or form so the Celtic Challenge is great for that.
“A county minor panel might have 35 players on it whereas now you have twice that so you're doubling the size of the net and it's proven very successful for us for keeping guys involved.”