Dublin defender Daire Gray says the capital men face “a huge challenge” when they travel to Newbridge this weekend to play Kildare for a place in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals.

The Lilywhites were crowned Joe McDonagh Cup champions last Sunday thanks to a 2-26 to 1-19 win over Laois at Croke Park, which saw them backing up last year’s Christy Ring Cup triumph for back-to-back promotions.

Now they’re set to host Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s side in the preliminary quarter-finals of the Liam MacCarthy Cup race and, speaking to RTE Sport, Gray knows the task ahead for the visitors in Newbridge this Saturday (4pm).

"It's a huge challenge ahead of us there, and it's one we're really looking forward to,” said the wing back.

"Not every county is gearing up going training this week. We're very privileged to be in this position."

On the influence that Ó Ceallacháin has had on the group during his first year in charge, the Whitehall Colmcille clubman added: "Niall made it his business to make sure that it was seamless and that we hit the ground running and we did.

"He was part of the Na Fianna set up and the Dublin set up at the same time so you see he's just hurling mad. When you see your management team bringing that passion, that drive and that ambition it comes right down to the players and we can all feel it.

"We have David Curtin from Ballyboden St Enda's. He's as passionate a Dublin hurling man as I've ever seen. "Dotsy [David] O’Callaghan is there with us too, and he's been there, done it. So you know what it means to them and what it means to us. It's hugely inspirational."

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