Dublin Star Highlights Special Aspect Of Playing Alongside His Brother

There has been one especially satisfying aspect of breaking onto the Dublin senior panel for the PwC Hurler of the Month for May, Brian Hayes.

The Kilmacud Crokes star has become an integral player for the Dubs, who topped the Leinster round-robin this year after sensational wins over both Galway and Kilkenny.

The Boys in Blue would, though, come out comfortably second best in last weekend's provincial decider against the Tribesmen, whose dominance was reflected in the 14-point gap by full-time.

"We were all disappointed, disappointed in our performance and the result, obviously," Hayes says on a media call on Thursday.

But, you know, the good thing is that we have another competition to look forward to in a week and a half's time. We have an All-Ireland quarter-final that we're preparing for, so we just have to dust ourselves down. We’re really looking forward to that now.

I suppose you spend the next, you know, one-and-a-half or two days with the lads. You're together as a team, so that always helps.

It's a matter of you don't really have a choice. You kind of have to start looking forward towards two weeks' time, the next campaign, the next championship. That's what we just have to do, so, whether we want to or whether we're ready to or not, it's what we're doing.

Personally, I'm looking forward to it, and I know a lot of the lads are as well. You know, you spend the day after and the night of and stuff with your teammates, with the lads who are going through it together.

It's an admirable outlook from the Dublin midfielder, who has had the pleasure of starring alongside brother Ronan at inter-county level this year.

Brian Hayes was the hero of Dublin's dramatic last-gasp win in Salthill during the Leinster round-robin, after his winning goal with virtually the final puck of the game.

His brother, Ronan, had earlier scored the goal which clawed Dublin back into the game with just ten minutes to play.

The Kilmacud Crokes brothers have been vital players for Dublin in 2026. Brian, the younger brother at 23, says these will be special days for the family to look back on in years to come.

It's special, playing with your brother, having good days out on the pitch together. It's always nice and you'll probably appreciate it a bit more when we're both, you know, not playing anymore and we're that bit older. It's great for our family as well…it's special.

Is there any friendly rivalry between the Hayeses?

I suppose maybe the fact that it's, you know, different positions, we wouldn't be directly competing.

But no, like I think really between us it's all just everything really about the team and results. It kind of plays second fiddle to what part you play in that, like the four players were both massive hurling fans and Dublin fans. So, no I don't think there's much competition.

I would give him a bit of slagging if you know he's not pulling his weight and stuff like that! There is that bit of stuff between your brother, but there's not too much competition between the two of us.

Brian Hayes is an unusual phenomenon in the modern game, having graduated to the Dublin senior team without ever having played for his county at minor or U20 level.

He admitted on Thursday that the heavy Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny in 2024, his first exposure to the highest level, was something of a baptism of fire.

Counting it as the toughest moment of his Dublin career thus far, Hayes said he had learned much from that difficult day.

I suppose the Leinster final two years ago was like [my] first experience, my first time playing at an inter-county level, first time playing for Dublin, first Leinster final.

It definitely didn't go my way personally as well as as a collective. I definitely got a lot of experience from that. You kind of get a bit of a shock when a big game or a big day doesn't go your way and stuff.

Luckily, touch wood, I haven't had any major injuries as well…long may that continue!

Vital to his progression has been Níall Ó Ceallacháin, who took over as Dublin manager in 2025, having led Na Fianna to the All-Ireland club championship.

Ó Ceallacháin has started Hayes in 14 straight championship games, a huge vote of confidence.

"It's huge. It just instils belief in you," Hayes says of his relationship with the Dublin manager.

"You know your manager trusts you, and you can go out and just try to put your best performance in.

"There's also the other side, that it's so competitive that you have to. There's someone right behind you looking, looking for your spot, looking for your jersey. Niall's been great. He knows the Dublin club scene. He's won before with Na Fianna. It's brilliant, and it's great to have a manager that does believe in you and does trust you."

After dusting themselves off from the dejection of the Leinster SHC final, Dublin have an All-Ireland quarter-final against Clare to look ahead to.

That date with the Banner in Thurles is set for June 20th, a night which is set to be massive for Dublin hurling.

"There's a lot there that we can take from last weekend, a lot of things that weren't right that we now have to get right for Saturday week, against Clare," Hayes said.

"We've played them a few times this year, and we know how good they are and what they're about. It's about focusing for the next few weeks on those bits that weren't right for the Galway game, and getting that right basically for the next day. But look, it's all a good experience, all of it."

The return of Liam Rushe has been a massive boost for Dublin this year, with the Na Fianna man influential sitting behind Hayes in the half-back line.

Hayes says that the potential of Rushe returning had been flagged to the squad long before it was made public, and talked up how big an influence he had had on the squad.

Liam coming back was a big lift. He brings so much experience, so much quality. I was watching him growing up!

[Bringing him back] to the setup was massive. He has that experience, and stuff liek that. It's great for any of the younger lads, any of the lads who even played with him for a few years before he stepped away. He's been brilliant.

Dublin face Clare in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals at 7pm on Saturday, June 20th in Thurles.