Dublin hurler Conor Burke hopes county can learn from this season

BreakingNews.ie

20-07-2025

It may have ended in a heavy defeat to Cork in a semi-final, but Dublin hurler Conor Burke looks back on the season positively.
At the beginning of the year, not many fans and pundits would have put Dublin in the final four come July, but a remarkable quarter-final win over Limerick shocked the country.
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In a first semi-final since 2013, it wasn't to be for the boys in blue, as Cork were ruthless 7-26 to 2-21 winners in Croke Park.
A big part of Dublin's progress, Burke says Dublin must build from this season into the future, and could look to Cork for inspiration.
"For us, what I think is important is we are at those big stages more regularly and more consistently, that we are playing in the business end against the best teams and bringing a level of performance that gives us a chance of beating them.
"Last year, we were in the Leinster final and we had another poor, poor showing. Cork have gone through a lot of heartbreak over the last couple of years, and they have regrouped and taken their learnings from those big days.
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"For us, it is about putting ourselves in that position as often as we can and taking our learnings as they come."
When it comes ot hurling, Dublin has had the attention taking away, with much of the spotlight on the footballers over the years.
In a rare year when they have gone further than the football side, it shows the progress made in Dublin hurling.
Combined with All-Ireland wins for Na Fianna and Cuala, Dublin have shown how hard work is paying off.
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Having been written off ahead of their quarter-final against Limerick, Dublin produced arguably the performance of the season to defeat Limerick, who have won four of the last five All-Ireland's.
A game that will likely never be forgotten, the Dublin midfielder said they approached it like any other game.
"You are just focused on the task at hand, there is enough motivation for ourselves to get to the later stages and the reward was big enough. I don't think there was any additional motivation.
"Limerick are a brilliant team and have had huge success over the last couple of years.
"It is only when you are walking over getting pulled aside. You are so engrossed in the game trying to do your job.
"Just trying to enjoy the moment as well, it brought a lof of joy and to my family and friends as well."