“I’m really looking forward to getting back on the pitch” Dónal Burke

By Paul Keane 

Never has Dónal Burke greeted a new hurling season with such enthusiasm. 

It's been a frustrating few months for Dublin's richly talented attacker, who is finally nearing full fitness again following a serious hamstring injury. 

That setback occurred in the early minutes of Dublin's All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Clare last June and sidelined the 2022 and 2023 All-Star nominee from his club Na Fianna's journey to a first county title success and later the Leinster final. 

He took immense satisfaction from the Mobhi Road side's historic achievement but would have given anything to play a part. 

Months later, he reckons just a couple more weeks stand between him and a return to competitive action with Dublin. 

Speaking at the announcement that GetPRO, a new high protein range from Danone, are the new Official Protein Partner of Dublin GAA, Burke gave supporters the news they've been waiting for when he said he's almost there.

"I'm just taking it week by week, getting the fitness up," said Burke. "Match fitness is kind of the last thing to come so once I get that then I'll gradually be integrated back into matches so hopefully in the next coming weeks."

Assuring that the injury has fully healed, Burke said that it is all about improving his physical conditioning now and regaining match sharpness.

"It's just getting that fitness, in a couple of months you lose a good bit of fitness so it's about trying to get back up to inter-county level," he said.

Burke said that he probably could be even further down the line with his recovery than he is but took a well earned rest in December.

"I went away for a couple of weeks before Christmas so that wasn't too bad, to clear the head because obviously it was a tough six months," he said. "I'm really looking forward now to getting back on the pitch."

Burke was at Parnell Park for last weekend's National League opener against Tipperary. It ended in a defeat for the hosts but there were positives to be taken from the strong third quarter showing. 

"I think we probably would have been disappointed with our first-half performance but, at the end of the day, it was our first proper competitive game of the year and there were stages of the match that we controlled," he said. 

"Probably the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second-half we would have been really happy with so it's just about getting that for 60 or 70 minutes and hopefully we can just get that consistency over the next couple of weeks."

With six players not available this year, nine new faces in the squad and the recent return of former captain Chris Crummey, it may take a little while for things to click for the 2011 league champions.

Burke said they are principally looking for positive performances in the coming weeks. He hopes that National League points will follow as a consequence.

"I think we're targeting more consistency in our performances than anything else, we'll target our performances over the next couple of weeks moreso than where we finish in the league I'd say," he said.

Dublin have looked at 34 different players in total this year since the start of the Walsh Cup. Defender Paddy Smyth has been a central figure again and will captain the team, taking over the armband from Eoghan O'Donnell.

"Paddy's a true professional," said Burke. "He's savage. I'd say everyone has time for him and will follow him anywhere. It's great for him and it's a good appointment."