Regarded by many as the greatest playwrite in the English language, His plays (and poems) are studied, dissected, analysed and re-analysed with a fine tooth comb by millions of people all over the world. For those who dont know, I am of course talking about William Shakespeare. Although nobody can say with any great certainty how many plays Shakespeare wrote, The consensus of many people who study literature for a living believe it to be around 37. What we do know for sure however, Is that some of his plays where tragic. Some where funny and uplifting, while others remain controversial to this very day. One quote - from one of his comedy plays, The twelfth night,
Is a very famous quote. And it is the following

"Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them."

When fans and pundits in tabloid newspapers talk about the current Dublin football team, Some will argue they have already "achieved greatness". And listen, Thats a person's opinion and i for one, cannot say that view is correct. Nor can i sit here and say it is incorrect because the application of the term is dependent on both the person(s) subjective and perspective view, and simply put, each individual has the potential to make their own mind up, However i do believe the term itself is used with such frequency, That it potentially takes away from a team/person that has genuinely achieved greatness. The fact is, everyone has a definition of greatness in their mind.

So you are probably wondering, "what is his definition of greatness?" Well, Technically speaking greatness can refer to individuals/teams who possess a natural ability to be better than all others. My own definition is exactly that, But where people will argue, or where their views will take different paths will down to how people percieve, "better than all others". For some it will be the quality and strength of squad and our recent national success, For others it will be about the type of football a team plays. For me, For Dublin to achieve ultimate greatness, Greatness that eclipses everything that has gone before, This Dublin team have to emulate great teams of the past.

Sporting success is all about the amount of medals and/or trophies won by a team or individual. Its not necessarily the style of football or the strength of a squad that makes a team great, Good teams arent remembered if they win nothing, For me its all about the silverware won. The the strength of the team and the great style of football is an added bonus.

And so in the light of day, When I sit down and think about GAA sides who have "achieved greatness" I think of the great Kerry side of 78-81 who won 4 all irelands in a row, A feat not beaten by anyone. I think of Kilkenny who stand alone in hurling. I think that they are "great" sides, And this current Dublin side still have alot to do before they can even be mentioned in the same breath as those sides.

Will this current side win back to back AI titles ? I believe they will. Will they entertain us playing some of the best football we have seen ? I believe they have and will continue to do so YES. Are they perhaps the strongest Dublin teampanel we've seen ? Probably. Will they fulfill their potential ? I hope so.

But are they currently among the greatest sides ever? , Not yet. This is a wonderful time to be a Dublin fan. Make no mistake about it, But this is still only the start of what we dream is a long period of Dublin dominance. Maybe at the end of it all we can look back and be up there alongside the greatest teams ever.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 20/05/2014 19:08:59    1590929

If football be the food of love, then play on, give me excess of it!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 19:30:29    1590940

The waynoI doth protest too much, methinks...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 20/05/2014 19:45:55    1590947

Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt the Dubs!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 19:53:07    1590952

Shall I compare Dublin to Kerry in their day?
They art fitter and more temperate,
Rough winds to play against and do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 20:03:46    1590959

Dubs are average. No proper hardy defenders. Michael Darragh hasn't caught a ball in his life and can't kick the ball either. Paul Flynn is merely a better looking Brian Dooher.

Bernard Brogan's good though.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 20/05/2014 20:08:34    1590963

Having not even read the opening post, my two favourite Shakesperian quotes come to mind:
"....the false face doth hide, what the false heart doth know"!
"....that one can smile and smile, and be a villian"!

But yes, I agree, Kerry are the greatest and will prove so again this year with SAM in paw unless Mayo finally do it!
Can anyone stop Kerry? They are quietly building down there!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 20/05/2014 20:10:57    1590965

Come on lads give it a rest.At least have the decency to wait until September.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 20/05/2014 20:11:20    1590966

You lost me at regarded WaynoI!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 20/05/2014 20:11:40    1590968

Dublin are nowhere near greatness

Simple as that

At the moment they have everything to prove

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20605 - 20/05/2014 20:19:36    1590976

Waynol
To be really classed as great or the greatest Dublin team ever, this present Dublin team has to win three in a row, so this years and next years all Ireland championships. I don't think a Dublin team have ever done three in a row ( correct me if I'm wrong) Now since I started following football Galway were winning their first, and did so again for the following two years::: the three in a row team. Now they have been rightly called GREAT. Big feat to win three in a row but they had marvoulous footballers. Next up were the Kerry team you have mentioned , another fantastic team. But failed with history in the making::: a last minute goal and it was the first All Ireland I was at. Now we had Down 60/61 team, another great team, then you had Meath 87/88 and Cork 89/90. Kerry 06/07 and failed going for three in a row in 08. I think if Dublin win this years AI then they will do three in a row. Now if I were Dublin supportes I would not be talking about Dublin dominating over the next few years, Three in a row would be a more realistic target and would make them the GREATEST DUBLIN team ever and one of the GREATS of Gaelic football. Lots of football to be played to achieve that and plenty of luck also,::: players free of injuries. Plus don't forget , every now and again along comes a new team who can stake a claim for Sam. Good luck

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 20/05/2014 20:20:34    1590978

And we wonder why other counties dislike us at times?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 20/05/2014 20:22:31    1590981

That's enough (ed)!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 20/05/2014 20:22:43    1590982

Its nice for us Dubs to flatter ourselves that we are any good at all, but Im not sure if anyone can stop kerry this year!

I thought maybe mayo might do it, but now I see how quietly kerry are building I think they will take SAM back again!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 20/05/2014 20:24:37    1590984

Unlike Shakespeare, who paraphrased a few times, and was influenced by the likes of Plutarch, Ovid and Xenophon of Ephesus. Dublin are able to rely on their own ability and strength in depth rather than borrowing from the Kerry, Donegal and Mayo playbooks.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 20/05/2014 20:28:12    1590986

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 351

1590966
Come on lads give it a rest.At least have the decency to wait until September.

If it were done when tis done

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 20:28:45    1590987

Being so great Kerry have no need to beg.........

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 20:32:33    1590993

Alas, poor Kerry, I knew them well!

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 20/05/2014 20:36:35    1590995

We know what Kerry are, but know not what Dublin may be.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13724 - 20/05/2014 20:38:02    1590999

And we wonder why other counties dislike us at times?

_____________

Come again ?

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 20/05/2014 20:46:56    1591010