Yes Realmsn2, Kildare the seventh most populous county in Ireland, €700K in the red a couple of years ago, high profile appointments to management staff, players sourced from other counties yet now 17th position in the football league. And Kildare is a single code county. Kildare people need to look closer to home and stop blaming Dublin's pooulation for their own failures. Dublin's successes are noteworthy. Only a few years ago we were taking a hiding off Kerry and Tyrone but Gavin set out his stall and let fellas express themselves and enjoy the game. At the same time the underage teams were bringing fellas through. However it's not a conveyor belt, the U21s stumbled over Kildare before losing to Mayo two weeks ago. Mayo probably should have taken the seniors out last year in the drawn game but didn't, yet are capable. Dublin have been lucky in that Kerry and Tyrone's purple patch was over but Tyrone are now climbing back. Had they both had strong squads in the last 3 to 4 years than Dublin would have had a bumpier ride. The blues will fall at some stage but for us Dubs who had been suffering for nearly 2 decades without a title we're just enjoying it while it lasts. The current crop are the best side I have witnessed, not a boast just a fact, so I intend enjoying watching these guys until they call it a day.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 27/04/2016 09:00:08    1849943

Dublin had those same "advantages " for years when we won nothing

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts:1242 - 26/04/2016 17:43:29 1849837

not true, they have only had the funding advantage since 2006 or so....and since that time they have been doing a gradual takeover of provincial and national competitions

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 27/04/2016 10:26:34    1849983

Dublin are justly hot favourites for Sam, given their long winning streak (22 games?). However, even allowing for their dominance at present, I don't believe that they're unbeatable. Even the best sides in every sport have an off-day, and their major competitors have put it up to them in the last three or four years, usually being bested by small margins in the big games. What is certain, though, is that these other top sides will need to play very well and to get a fair smattering of luck in order to topple the blue machine.

Their bulk of population and marketability does give them an advantage over other counties, but this was also true during their long barren spells (1983-1995 and 1996-2011), so it's not really the smoking gun that The Master is implying. As for whether Dublin's success is more or less noteworthy than Tyrone's in the Noughties, really it's a very subjective question and it's moot anyway. I wouldn't give a flying fig if Mayo won an All-Ireland in future and our success was compared unfavourably to say, Offaly's. As the great Vin Diesel once said, "It doesn't matter whether you win by an inch or a mile: winning is winning." The best team wins Sam every year and Dublin have managed that 3 times in recent seasons, so good luck to them.

What is a serious issue is the fall-off in some of Dublin's traditional competitors provincially and nationally (Meath, Kildare, Offaly, Laois, Galway, Cork etc. Even Kerry have only won Sam once in the past six seasons, which is a relatively fallow period for them.) The GAA should look to how we can make these counties competitive again, because it will impact the sport if Dublin have no competition in a couple of years' time.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 27/04/2016 11:02:00    1850009

Dublin are an unreal unfit and I think it will be in the future when people really appreciate their brilliance. But is has to be said that when the smaller counties win the AI, Armagh, Derry, Offaly etc they are much more memorable and noteworthy.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 27/04/2016 11:18:30    1850016

Their bulk of population and marketability does give them an advantage over other counties, but this was also true during their long barren spells (1983-1995 and 1996-2011)

They were not getting funded from central council to the tune of 47% of all grants in this period. They weren't getting a sports council grant of 1 million for most of these years.

Saying that they always had these advantages isn't true.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 27/04/2016 11:35:11    1850021

The op is exactly the poor mouthed nonesence being spouted which means Dublin have beaten 95% of teams before they go on the pitch, they have this, they have that, grow a set and worry about finding a way to beat them rather than worrying about their 'advantages'. Fermanagh one of the least populous and lower funded counties had a proper cut a Dublin last year, as a division 3 team (they were promoted during that years nfl) so if they can get over these mental hurdles why can't some of the so called aristocrats.

You can't change the population, the funding won't change anytime soon but until someone emerges from the pack and stops whinging (e.g Donegal 2014) the so called apocalypse of dublins dominance will continue. It is always up to the chasing pack to draw in the leader not to point and cry because they're too fast, have better trainers etc.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 27/04/2016 11:41:48    1850023

The op is exactly the poor mouthed nonesence being spouted which means Dublin have beaten 95% of teams before they go on the pitch, they have this, they have that, grow a set and worry about finding a way to beat them rather than worrying about their 'advantages'. Fermanagh one of the least populous and lower funded counties had a proper cut a Dublin last year, as a division 3 team (they were promoted during that years nfl) so if they can get over these mental hurdles why can't some of the so called aristocrats.

You can't change the population, the funding won't change anytime soon but until someone emerges from the pack and stops whinging (e.g Donegal 2014) the so called apocalypse of dublins dominance will continue. It is always up to the chasing pack to draw in the leader not to point and cry because they're too fast, have better trainers etc.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts:107 - 27/04/2016 11:41:48 1850

Are you nuts? The half time score was 1-13 to 6 points. i.e. game over

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 27/04/2016 11:58:22    1850028

The op is exactly the poor mouthed nonesence being spouted which means Dublin have beaten 95% of teams before they go on the pitch, they have this, they have that, grow a set and worry about finding a way to beat them rather than worrying about their 'advantages'. Fermanagh one of the least populous and lower funded counties had a proper cut a Dublin last year, as a division 3 team (they were promoted during that years nfl) so if they can get over these mental hurdles why can't some of the so called aristocrats.

You can't change the population, the funding won't change anytime soon but until someone emerges from the pack and stops whinging (e.g Donegal 2014) the so called apocalypse of dublins dominance will continue. It is always up to the chasing pack to draw in the leader not to point and cry because they're too fast, have better trainers etc.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts:107 - 27/04/2016 11:41:48 1850

I don't think Micky Harte, Stephen Rochford, Eamon Fitzmaurice et al are wringing their hands and saying to their players, aw Dublin are great, they have every advantage, we'll never beat them, boo hoo. They are busily plotting Dublins downfall as we speak. We have a good whinge on here because we can but that certainly won't affect the chasing pack.

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 27/04/2016 12:15:13    1850039

Realman for an explanation a Gaelic football match is played over 70mins which is exactly how long Fermanagh played for whereas if you look at the leinster semi final well. There's too much being made of things that won't and can't change and inequalities in sport have been there since time and memorial which is what makes toppling the behemoths all the sweater. Dublin aren't invincible they are a well drilled, well funded, highly talented outfit, the other teams can make an effort to bridge the gap in 2 out of 3 and as was mentioned there are 3 or 4 teams who will have their plans in place for Dublin.

Man Utd won countless league titles as the best funded, supported, sponsored team around. If you walk through most towns in Ireland you'll see their shirts, no criticism of unfair practises, there is an obsession with critiquing the dubs which gets in the way of beating them.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 27/04/2016 12:34:37    1850055

Realman for an explanation a Gaelic football match is played over 70mins

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts:108 - 27/04/2016 12:34:37 18500

And the game you cited was over after 35 mins

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 27/04/2016 13:02:16    1850078

Hear hear duckula!

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 27/04/2016 13:02:16    1850079

Man Utd won countless league titles as the best funded, supported, sponsored team around. If you walk through most towns in Ireland you'll see their shirts, no criticism of unfair practises, there is an obsession with critiquing the dubs which gets in the way of beating them.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts:108 - 27/04/2016 12:34:37 185


Man Utd are part of the premiership, a professional football team. The GAA should not have the same understanding, but it seems to do.

If the GAA are going to be amateur or at least claim to be, then there should be no favoritism in situ for handing out monies. In fact, if there is bias, the logic would be that the weaker counties get the lion's share. There are places like ballinamore, Co Leitrim, where gaelic football is played and no other sport is. They are fanatics. But they neither get the requisite financial sponsorship nor help from the GAA. This is in relative terms to what Dublin are getting, as well as kerry for that mater.

This issue is not to be confused with prejudices perceived or otherwise against certain counties.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 27/04/2016 13:10:06    1850083

And how much cash do the Dubs generate for the GAA?

That counts for nothin I suppose.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 27/04/2016 18:09:09    1850214

So the conclusion from Realmsn2 is that had Dublin not received money between 2006 and 2010 we would not have won an AI in 2011 and begun our run of wins. Presumably Connolly, Flynn, Brogan, Costelloe etc would not be as talented because they are only so because of the extra funding that Dublin have received since 2006. So what's the real excuse Realman? You seem to hopping between population, money and home advantage but settling on the money that we have received since 2006. Imagine how boring the game would have been without this free flowing Dublin football team over the past few years. Enjoy the spectacle while it lasts!

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 27/04/2016 19:40:29    1850243

So the conclusion from Realmsn2 is that had Dublin not received money between 2006 and 2010 we would not have won an AI in 2011 and begun our run of wins. Presumably Connolly, Flynn, Brogan, Costelloe etc would not be as talented because they are only so because of the extra funding that Dublin have received since 2006. So what's the real excuse Realman? You seem to hopping between population, money and home advantage but settling on the money that we have received since 2006. Imagine how boring the game would have been without this free flowing Dublin football team over the past few years. Enjoy the spectacle while it lasts!

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts:2640 - 27/04/2016 19:40:29 1850243

Where am I hopping from one to another, I don't understand?

I brought up all three advantages, advantages no other county has.

Go where you want with this and try to pick holes desperately if you want but I suggest you just live with it that Dublin are winning All irelands but Dublin winning All Irelands isn't the same as normal counties winning stuff.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 28/04/2016 10:31:10    1850339

9-10 Threads related to Dublin GAA on Page 1

And the championship hasn't even started yet....

;)

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 28/04/2016 11:09:57    1850351

Realman I Suppose conceding 7 goals in 35 mins to Kerry is Dublin s fault to.?

dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 28/04/2016 11:41:04    1850371

But Realman, Dublin are beating teams outside of Croke Park, Mayo in Castlebar, Monaghan in Clones, Roscommon in Carrick, Down in Newry etc. Do you seriously think that playing in Croke Park, a stadium as familiar to Colm Cooper, Aidan O'Shea, Sean Cavanagh etc as to any Dublin player is a deciding factor in Dublin winning big games at the end of the championship? Dublin's population? Has it ever been smaller than another count's? If population is such a huge factor then how come Kildare, seventh in size, is only the 17th best footballing team in the land? Money, what does the spend per head of population look like compared to other counties? It takes so much more!

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 29/04/2016 09:18:03    1850590

But Realman, Dublin are beating teams outside of Croke Park, Mayo in Castlebar, Monaghan in Clones, Roscommon in Carrick, Down in Newry etc. Do you seriously think that playing in Croke Park, a stadium as familiar to Colm Cooper, Aidan O'Shea, Sean Cavanagh etc as to any Dublin player is a deciding factor in Dublin winning big games at the end of the championship? Dublin's population? Has it ever been smaller than another count's? If population is such a huge factor then how come Kildare, seventh in size, is only the 17th best footballing team in the land? Money, what does the spend per head of population look like compared to other counties? It takes so much more!

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts:2641 - 29/04/2016 09:18:03 185

Monaghan and Roscommon have the population of a mid sized Dublin surburb, Dublin should be absolutely creaming a team of such limited resources.

As for the home advantage, Dublin play all their meaningful games in Dublin with the only terraced end of the ground completely taken over by their fans. Its their ground and every sport on earth shows that your chances of winning go way up if you play at home. Frankly..Its bleedin obvious.

Kildare should be beating Monaghan/Roscommon as well but Kildare don't matter in this argument but I don't think you can stop yourself from bringing it up.

I go to my same point that is the start of the argument and the end of it for it. Dublin have a great great team that has huge multiple advantages over every other county. It might not be nice for a Dub to hear but its the truth.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 29/04/2016 11:34:36    1850638

....with all these perceived advantages that Dublin has - how come the Hurlers are not winning all-irelands? how come the Ladies footballers and Camogie teams are not winning all before them? How come the Footballers have not won Minor/U21 etc etc etc
I know for most of you here the GAA is Football - (it isn't and it never will) seems strange that advantages are very selective - just like most peoples opinions to make a very lopsided argument. So back to the point (lessness of this damn thread). Could it be at football Dublin just have better players available now? You know the human gene pool fluctuates over generations it is a fact of life. Maybe it is because they are better coached? Because they certainly don't have better facilites they are nomads, counties like Kildare pumped millions into a centre of excellence - Dublin pumped it into something as basic and unsexy as coaching. And maybe the unpalatable truth is that finally picking the cream of the crop is now paying off in spades. and will do for years to come.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4897 - 29/04/2016 11:48:34    1850644