Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill says the Glensmen should take a leaf out of Dublin's book.

As the northerners prepare to face the high-flying Sky Blues in Saturday's All-Ireland U21 HC semi-final at Newry, Cahill told The Irish News:

"A tremendous amount of work has been put in, there's no doubt about that, and where Dublin hurling is at now did not happen overnight. It's been a long and sustained effort.

"Hurling in Antrim should target Belfast city. There are clubs in the city making great progress, such as St John's, who have some excellent minors coming through. There's great work being done in the country, but a strategy for Belfast city should be a target.

"That is where the biggest population for the development of hurling is and that development needs to start with kids of five, six and seven years of age.

"That is the time to get kids interested in the game, coach the basic skills, and once you do that hurling is then seen as a very popular game to play.

"You only have to take a walk around some of the areas of Dublin to see the number of young fellas with hurleys in their hands up and down the streets.

"That is what I would like to see more of in Belfast city and in other centres of large population, in the towns - Ballymena and Antrim - and in time with all the good work being done in the country clubs, I think hurling will grow, develop and improve in Antrim just as it has been doing in Dublin." Tweet

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