Challenge is to get to the top four: Anthony Cunningham

Dublin hurling selector Anthony Cunningham has echoed Pat Gilroy's ambition of getting the senior hurlers up to the level of the top four teams in the country.

"Yeah, that's the challenge and to get to the top four is really challenging, but there's no reason why it shouldn't," says Anthony.

"You would have to say that the work being done at underage and with the underage teams and developing teams and with the clubs, it's beginning to shine.

"If you take this year's U-17 team, they were as close to a Kilkenny or a Galway or a Cork underage team as you could see.

"That's proof to me that the coaching is really, really working and that the setup is working. I would think that the younger guys coming through would help fuel some of the older guys and maybe get to the top four," he adds.

"That's a huge challenge, but we're not there if there's not a challenge. That's life for every one of us that gets up every day, there's a challenge."

While Dublin have only returned to training recently the Dubs coach/selector is very impressed.

"I'm really, really taken back by the energy, enthusiasm and the backroom team that he (Pat Gilroy) has put together. They're really driving to achieve and he's a very, very impressive man.

"But you would have to say that Dublin run a really good shop, probably the best in the country. Probably have the best CEO in the country in John Costello, no disrespect to any other county."

Dublin hurlers face the Dublin Bus/Herald Dubs Stars in St Vincent's on Saturday, December 23 (2.0; football is at 12.30).

Then early in the new year their begin their Bord na Móna Walsh Cup campaign with a game away against Meath on Wednesday, January 3.