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The Last 5 Years In Football

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Anyone else agree its been a poor era for football in terms of great teams? Only two really good teams and one of them in Mayo practically struggled throughout the year until they got to August.

I realise Kerry beat Donegal in 2014 to win a soft All Ireland but i'm sure most Kerry fans will agree its one of the poorer Kerry sides to win during the last 40 years and that Donegal side were a pale shadow of the great side that won in 2012.

The excellent Cork side we'd seen finally win in 2010 were finished, Tyrone were efficient but lacked the class of previous sides, Donegal's great side had aged, the great Kerry side had come to an end Galway & Meath were at their lowest ebbs of the last 40 years.

Well done to Dublin their a great team who've achieved greatness but have really lacked major challengers during this period.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 20/03/2019 09:49:39    2173864

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And on and on it goes. It's funny at this stage lads.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 20/03/2019 10:39:40    2173879

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No disagree. It's the same in any era. Between 2003 and 2010 there were only two decent teams Tyrone and Kerry. Dublin retired both of them in 2011. The 70s and 80s were dominated by Dublin and Kerry, granted with a great Offaly team in there too. 90s was a mixed bag with Meath, Down and Dublin with dEcent teams. More recently between 2011 and 2018 we've had arguably the greatest team to ever play the game, the best Donegal team of all time and the best Mayo team of all time. It's no different to any other era it's just that Dublin have had a phenomenal team that is perhaps now begining to wane. If Dublin weren't there people would be raving about how competitive it is. The signs are that Kerry are coming and Galway also building. In Leinster it looks like Meath may be waking up from their slumber and Kildare are forming up it seems. Intetesting years ahead.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/03/2019 10:43:23    2173881

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I'd flip that around. Imagine Dublin weren't in Leinster? It'd be arguably the closest and most competitive competition. Connacht is probably the second most competitive province with 3 out of 5 teams genuine contenders. Ulster's deemed the most competitive, and rightfully so, with 3 genuine contenders with another 2/3 potential banana skins. It's a shame Cork has fallen because with Tipperary emerging as footballers - it could've helped the Munster championship.

My point is, that without Dublin - there could be 8-10 all Ireland contenders (frustrating for us "nearly teams")...
But there is Dublin and thank God for Dublin - Dublin are doing exactly what Kilkenny did 10 years ago. They are raising the bar. They are ensuring that blanket defenses or "puke football" is reconsidered.

I think most teams now are beginning to embrace an offensive game plan with some regard still for a blanket (including Dublin)

So you could call this a "transitional era" for gaelic football but remember that Connacht has had 3 champions in the last 5 years and so has Ulster..small mention for the club teams that have exceeded expectations recently (slaughtneil and mullinachta)

People's memory seems to be short. Lets not forget that Dublin aren't the most successful team in the history of GAA. If it wasn't for the Dubs, Kerry would have probably double their All Ireland tally (give or take) and it won't be long now till we enjoy other teams lifting Sam Maguire - maybe even 2019!!

People also have a tendancy to compare football to hurling which isn't really fair and if we are going to do that then it should be the Hurling all Ireland vrs the Super 8s and the Super 8s was class last year imo.

MalsBalls (Monaghan) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2019 11:01:09    2173883

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The best team to ever play the game dominated this era! When a team is so far ahead of the rest it makes it uncompetitive and as a result boring to some! However history will look kindly on this era as producing it's best ever team. The national league may be a sign this great Dublin team have already peaked and competitive championships may be on the way back. All great teams or individuals eventually peak and fall back into the pack. I still think they have enough to finish off the 5 but over the next couple of years we will likely see other teams stopping their dominance.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 20/03/2019 11:03:33    2173884

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They have the best ever panel not the best ever team.

In this years final which I expect them to make they'll probably only have 8 players starting who started the 2015 final.

Jim Gavin is the best manager in the game and one of the best ever, his influence shouldn't be down played.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 20/03/2019 11:13:23    2173887

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I think a lot of people were spoilt in the 90's and the early noughties in that there was a large number of different teams competing for and winning All Irelands. This past few years only really Mayo have come really close to beating Dublin but it is maybe the norm to have 2 or 3 strong teams as opposed to what we had from say 1990-2003. You had Down, Derry, Donegal, Cork, Dublin, Tyrone, Meath, Galway, Kildare, Armagh, Kerry, Mayo all play in All Ireland Finals during that period.

oakleaflad (Derry) - Posts: 46 - 20/03/2019 12:55:26    2173917

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Replying To JDF:  "They have the best ever panel not the best ever team.

In this years final which I expect them to make they'll probably only have 8 players starting who started the 2015 final.

Jim Gavin is the best manager in the game and one of the best ever, his influence shouldn't be down played."
Yes panel as when it comes to one team with few changes in 4 or 5 year period it has to be Kerry of the late 70s early 80s and imagine how much better they would have been if they were exposed to modern day training and preparation?

I'd also agree on the Jim Gavin a huge influence and one of the best ever managers and he hasn't lost a single game league or championship against his so called biggest challenger Mayo.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3338 - 20/03/2019 13:35:34    2173935

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Replying To Joxer:  "No disagree. It's the same in any era. Between 2003 and 2010 there were only two decent teams Tyrone and Kerry. Dublin retired both of them in 2011. The 70s and 80s were dominated by Dublin and Kerry, granted with a great Offaly team in there too. 90s was a mixed bag with Meath, Down and Dublin with dEcent teams. More recently between 2011 and 2018 we've had arguably the greatest team to ever play the game, the best Donegal team of all time and the best Mayo team of all time. It's no different to any other era it's just that Dublin have had a phenomenal team that is perhaps now begining to wane. If Dublin weren't there people would be raving about how competitive it is. The signs are that Kerry are coming and Galway also building. In Leinster it looks like Meath may be waking up from their slumber and Kildare are forming up it seems. Intetesting years ahead."
I get the point you're trying to make but some of the above is not supporting it.

Meath won sam more times in the 80's than Dublin did! Dublin were dominant in the 70s rather than the 80s. I doubt the current Mayo team would be considered the greatest ever....considering Mayo did win all irelands many years ago.

Is it far to say this Dublin team are the best to ever play the game? I am not sure. If they win the 5 in a row I think that will likely cement that position but if they don't I think they can only be regarded as one of the greatest IMO.

I agree with the OP around the point with respect to Leinster football.

Gator (Monaghan) - Posts: 238 - 20/03/2019 13:40:08    2173938

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Well you don't have to win an AI to be considered a very good team. Kerry made 6 finals in the 80s, Dublin made 3 and Meath made 2. I think that's conclusive enough. I guess what's most impressive about this Dublin team is their trophy haul, the amount of games that you have to win these days for a Sam (pre qtr finals you could win a Sam with just 3/4 wins!!!) and their success in an era where the skill levels and athleticism has never been greater. I don't think many would argue that this is the greatest team/panel to play the game, in living memory anyway.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/03/2019 15:00:07    2173962

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I suppose you have to take a lot of things into consideration when you are judging teams in terms of where they rank in the greatest list.
Titles won, competitiveness of the era, winning streaks, games played etc,etc.
It's probably fair to say we are witnessing a team that will rank well in the fullness of time with any team of the past and they will be judged on their record.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 20/03/2019 15:06:05    2173966

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Replying To JDF:  "They have the best ever panel not the best ever team.

In this years final which I expect them to make they'll probably only have 8 players starting who started the 2015 final.

Jim Gavin is the best manager in the game and one of the best ever, his influence shouldn't be down played."
Nah, Gavin is not even a factor, its the money.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8585 - 20/03/2019 23:53:51    2174095

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Replying To realdub:  "Nah, Gavin is not even a factor, its the money."
Nah its not the money , its the population , home games , Dublin joe , free cars , and lets not forget the free dinners -:)

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 21/03/2019 10:12:14    2174131

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Replying To superbluedub:  "Nah its not the money , its the population , home games , Dublin joe , free cars , and lets not forget the free dinners -:)"
Free dinners delivered straight to your front door get it right and don't forget the ball boys.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 21/03/2019 10:55:37    2174139

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Replying To superbluedub:  "Nah its not the money , its the population , home games , Dublin joe , free cars , and lets not forget the free dinners -:)"
Hi fair to ye for admitting it, I've been saying that on here for years.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 21/03/2019 14:38:09    2174203

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Sensible debate seems beyond some of the Dublin posters so they respond with sarcasm.

It has been a poor era since 2015, very rare to see Cork, Galway, Meath & Down all so poor at once. Those 4 counties had shared 11 All Irelands in the previous 28 finals prior to 2015. Add in that a great Kerry team were finished its left for a dull championship which only left one contender who have their own psychological issues to get over.

I think we're in for a great era of football going forward over the next 5 years.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 21/03/2019 14:50:54    2174211

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Replying To JDF:  "Sensible debate seems beyond some of the Dublin posters so they respond with sarcasm.

It has been a poor era since 2015, very rare to see Cork, Galway, Meath & Down all so poor at once. Those 4 counties had shared 11 All Irelands in the previous 28 finals prior to 2015. Add in that a great Kerry team were finished its left for a dull championship which only left one contender who have their own psychological issues to get over.

I think we're in for a great era of football going forward over the next 5 years."
Football was hardly the strongest during Kerry's 4 in-a-row with Dublin gone, Ulster in turmoil and Galway/Mayo fairly weak at the time. But yet that team is seen as the best ever yet in a stronger era this Dublin team "only won All Ireland's because of other counties being weak at this time". A great team is never given credit whilst they remain successful, it will be in twenty years time people look back and acknowledge just how special they were. Due to the agenda of people they probably have to win the 5 to leave no doubt they are the best ever because some just don't want to acknowledge their success.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 21/03/2019 15:12:38    2174220

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Replying To JDF:  "Sensible debate seems beyond some of the Dublin posters so they respond with sarcasm.

It has been a poor era since 2015, very rare to see Cork, Galway, Meath & Down all so poor at once. Those 4 counties had shared 11 All Irelands in the previous 28 finals prior to 2015. Add in that a great Kerry team were finished its left for a dull championship which only left one contender who have their own psychological issues to get over.

I think we're in for a great era of football going forward over the next 5 years."
You're confusing sarcasm with wit. Cork, Meath, Down and Galway have been out of the picture for a couple of decades. Mayo have been the new Galway and Tyrone the new Down. Cork is a hurling county. Donegal and Monaghan have more than replaced any other traditionally strong counties. Nothing wrong with the standard over the past 5-10 years just one extremely good team leading the charge.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/03/2019 16:31:52    2174228

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Replying To Joxer:  "You're confusing sarcasm with wit. Cork, Meath, Down and Galway have been out of the picture for a couple of decades. Mayo have been the new Galway and Tyrone the new Down. Cork is a hurling county. Donegal and Monaghan have more than replaced any other traditionally strong counties. Nothing wrong with the standard over the past 5-10 years just one extremely good team leading the charge."
Mayo have always been about, 9 All Ireland finals since 1989 proves that. Cork last won an All Ireland in 2010 beating Down so clearly you're wrong about been out of the picture for a few decades.

Tyrone haven't been good enough since 2008, they've not had the players and Donegal have been average enough since getting to the final in 2014. As for Monaghan they've just don't have enough quality to win an All Ireland.

Dublin are a fantastic side and will go down as the best ever alongside the Kerry team of the 70's/80's but i doubt they'd have been able to do 4 in a row in any other period in the previous 30 years.

JDF (Galway) - Posts: 322 - 21/03/2019 16:54:55    2174233

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Replying To JDF:  "Mayo have always been about, 9 All Ireland finals since 1989 proves that. Cork last won an All Ireland in 2010 beating Down so clearly you're wrong about been out of the picture for a few decades.

Tyrone haven't been good enough since 2008, they've not had the players and Donegal have been average enough since getting to the final in 2014. As for Monaghan they've just don't have enough quality to win an All Ireland.

Dublin are a fantastic side and will go down as the best ever alongside the Kerry team of the 70's/80's but i doubt they'd have been able to do 4 in a row in any other period in the previous 30 years."
Dublin are a fantastic side and will go down as the best ever alongside the Kerry team of the 70's/80's but i doubt they'd have been able to do 4 in a row in any other period in the previous 30 years."

The problem with a post like that is that we will never know. Just like we will never know had Dublin been a better team in the noughties, would Tyrone and Kerry have had it all their own way. It's all subjective and a matter of opinion really.

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 21/03/2019 17:53:43    2174239

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