Dunne: there's a trend emerging here and it can't be ignored
August 19, 2014
Tommy Dunne when he was involved with the Tipperary minor hurlers in 2007.
Dunne was undoubtedly thrilled to witness his native county dispose of Cork in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final but he concedes that the manner in which provincial champions are repeatedly failing to get past the penultimate stage is an issue that needs to be addressed.
The Tipp man, who was part of the Dublin backroom team last year when the Leinster-winning Dubs were caught out by the Rebels in their semi-final, points out that - with only one Munster championship-winning side going on to add the Liam MacCarthy Cup in the last ten years (Cork in 2005) - the emerging trend cannot be ignored:
"In my view it shouldn't have any relevance but the statistics are strongly suggesting that it is relevant and I think something is going to have to be done about it," he tells The Irish Times.
"I don't like having to say that because you feel like it's an excuse. Jimmy Barry's too much of a gentleman to offer it up as an excuse and it's not the only reason but there is a trend emerging here and it can't be ignored. The evidence of the past few years is there to support that.
"It's beginning to suggest that the most beneficial route to September is the one that offers more games at regular intervals. The evidence is there. Kilkenny are probably the only exception to that rule but they're exceptional anyway." Tweet
