Dublin’s Ger Cunningham on GAA drug testing and his admiration for Waterford

From the real capital to the actual capital.

Ger Cunningham is a man who, you suspect, doesn't get easily flustered. It is a trait that has served him well so far as Dublin hurling manager after a mixed league campaign saw his side combine the good with the very bad, sometimes in the same game. Cunningham's Dubs get their latest quest for the Liam MacCarthy Cup underway against Galway this weekend. We chatted to the Cork native at the recent launch of the 2015 Bord Gais Energy GAA U-21 Hurling championship, and first questioned how life with the banisteoir bib was treating him after so many seasons as a selector: How have you found life stepping up from a selector to being a manager? It's been enjoyable, but it's not just a one-man-show. It's about the people you're with and it's a team game as much with management as it is on the field with players. We can share the load in what's being done and trust who you have. I'm delighted with who we have working with us and it's been a challenge. It is difficult with the travel but if you get the performance on the field then it can make it all worth while. Is it hard to stay away from the Cork scene when you're based down there? You're up and down the motorway a lot but all my time and focus is on Dublin. My spare time is all about Dublin too. I'm not in the scene of talking about what's happening in Cork and what's going on because I'm spending so much time away from Cork. I read about it, that's about all. How are things in the camp after the league? 'We sat back and reviewed the league and the temptation would have been to look at the last game (against Cork) because it's the freshest game in our mind. We were trying to be consistent during the league at all times and I think we did that except for the Cork game in Croke Park. So, overall, I think we're happy at where we're at. We played well at times against Cork in the league semi final and maybe should have held out. But if we take what we learned from that and bring it into championship then maybe that will be a help.' Is it hard to prepare for a Galway team that can surprise some days and disappoint the next? 'We're expecting a full-on Galway team to come and play against us and that's what you have to prepare for. We know the challenge we have and we more have to focus on ourselves and hopefully that will take care of itself on the day.' How surprising was Waterford's league success or was it surprise at all? 'Not a huge amount because I have seven of those guys in UCC so they are all serious hurlers and the county have made a big effort early on and they were at it (training) before most teams. They have huge talent as well waiting to break through. They seem to be a momentum team; they're carefree and they have nothing to fear and they have shown their worth.' As a manager, is blood testing a step too far for amateur players? 'It's going to put pressure on players and it's going to be tough. But I think it's all about preparation and education and we're very lucky that we have a good medical team and we rely on them to give us all the information that we should know. It's about making sure players are aware of what they can and can't do. If that's done and players prepare properly,even though you will always have the exception, there shouldn't be an issue.' Is drug abuse a bigger issue at club level? 'Possibly, but I haven't heard it. It's not something that has been mentioned. I'm only involved in my own club at underage level and I've heard very little about it. I don't think its an issue at club level and I don't think it' an issue in general.' Is there a problem in hurling with verbal abuse?  'I did come across a bit of it during my playing days but not to any great extent. I think it's after being highlighted in the last few weeks but you will always have lads with comments or looking for chat but I don't think it's as big an issue as people make it out to be.' Does the GAA have a problem marketing its players, especially in hurling with players hidden behind helmets? 'It' s definitely an issue going forward players are not as recognisable as they were before. I think that is something that needs to be addressed with current players and players in the future. Maybe names on the jerseys might be something we could see.' Ger Cunningham spoke to SportsJOE at the launch of the 2015 Bord Gais Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship launch with the oping three games underway on May 27th.