NIALL Ó CEALLACHÁIN will get his first proper glimpse of life as an inter-county boss when Dublin begin their National Hurling League campaign against Antrim at Croke Park on January 25. Yet the man who has maintained a dual mandate since his appointment last September could enjoy his finest hour in management at HQ six days earlier. 3 Niall O Ceallachain will start as Dublin boss when their National Hurling League campaign starts against Antrim at Croke Park on January 25 3 With Na Fianna captain Donal Burke after winning the Leinster final against Kilcormac Killoughey 3 Séan Murphy is delighted Ó Ceallacháin scooped the Dublin gig and reckons he'll lead the county to new heights Credit: Inpho It was Ó Ceallacháin’s success in charge of Na Fianna that persuaded county board bosses he was the right man to succeed Micheál Donoghue. In the midst of the Mobhi Road men’s quest to defend the Dublin SHC title they claimed for the first time in 2023, the gaffer vowed to see the journey through nonetheless. By the time he leads the Dubs into their Division 1B opener against Davy Fitzgerald’s side on Saturday week, the CV that earned him the county job could be adorned by the biggest prize in club hurling. Ó Ceallacháin, who also works as Chief Operations Officer for not-for-profit housing body Clúid, has managed to keep several balls in the air over the past few months. And according to Seán Murphy, a member of the Na Fianna panel for Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland Club SHC final against Sarsfields, the increased demands on their bainisteoir have not forced the club to take a back seat. Last Sunday at UL, Dublin were victorious in a challenge match against a Limerick team containing Gearóid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Séamus Flanagan and new skipper Cian Lynch. Preparations for the new season will continue for the Sky Blues tomorrow afternoon when they travel south again to take on Tipperary at Fethard Town Park. But Murphy said: "No, I wouldn't say it has spilled over. Congratulations to Niall with the Dublin job. It's fully deserved there. “He's just been balancing his time as best he can. He's with us as often as he can be. I don't know when he's with the Dubs but I'm sure he's with them equally as often. “He's a busy man but we haven't seen any change from before he got the job. I've seen him as often as I have throughout the whole year." Joy for Limerick All-Star as he gets engaged 'in most subtle way ever' while holidaying in Australia Na Fianna had never contested a senior county final until Ó Ceallacháin brought them to the 2021 decider. They came up short against Kilmacud Crokes after extra-time and finished as runners-up to the same opposition 12 months later. Ó Ceallacháin’s side persevered and finally made the breakthrough in 2023, before recording back-to-back successes at Crokes’ expense last October thanks to Ciarán Stacey’s stoppage-time goal. On Ó Ceallacháin’s input, Murphy, 29, insisted: “He’s been huge for Na Fianna, even outside of the hurling. "I think this could be my 11th or 12th year with the Na Fianna hurlers and he was actually the manager when I first joined the team that long ago. There were a couple of managers in and out in between but then he was back with us again. “He just keeps the standards at such a high level. He's a total professional and he keeps everyone focused on the task at hand. There's huge credit due to Niall.” Speaking to SunSport last month, former Na Fianna ace Martin Quilty recalled how Ó Ceallacháin ‘cut short his own playing career’ to take the reins when the club was struggling to fill the managerial vacancy. Murphy explained: “He stepped into the management role to make sure that hurling stayed at the forefront and that we kept building hurling. “We had a lot of talent coming through from underage. He was kind of pivotal in the systems and organising training sessions way back then. It paid off then a couple of years later." Ó Ceallacháin has stated that the potential to go to ‘another level’ exists for a Dublin side who have come up short at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage of the past two Championship campaigns. On the county’s prospects under the new man at the helm, Murphy added: "Definitely a leader, is what I'd call him. He'd have total control over what he's trying to implement and he'd take advice from his selectors and everyone. “The lads can expect a really good season with him."

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