National Forum

Dublin GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Fionn:  "He is 5ft 11 and with the new rules for kick outs that is no longer adequate for a midfielder.

Brian is a super player, reads the game well and can field - but if I was Dessie I would have tried Sean in there in the run up to now.
I know he was injured for the Meath game but he is built like a tank and has the height.
Even CK will his fielding ability....

Once Fento called it a day - the midfield was always going to be a problem.
After the Meath game surely Dessie now needs to fix it - but he should have known before that game imo."
We all know both Lahiff and POCB are nowhere near intercounty standard so how we have let ourselves into this situation is baffling. I'd rather he moved a few around and stuck Howard and KK in there even and rotate with Bugler. As it stands if either of last week's midfielders are being relied upon for the upcoming games then we are in bother.

I'm not sure I can see a hammering on the cards though. IF and its a big IF we can regroup after last weekend and get our best 15 onto the field then I still think we can cause anyone bother. However at the moment the fear factor has well and truly gone but you'd hope amongst the more senior fellas in the squad that they are seriously hurting now and will get things moving in the right direction.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 224 - 30/04/2025 12:05:04    2605638

Link

Truly good managers integrate new players into their team when they are winning… this didn't happen with Dublin as he held onto or was too loyal to some players for too long… He is now trying to put square pegs into round holes and is being found out…!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3784 - 30/04/2025 12:07:19    2605639

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Killarney is wonderful place for a holiday, and an excellent venue - but not to see this skeleton of a Dublin team get obliterated by a very strong all Ireland contending kerry team...
There is a hammering on the cards this year for the Dubs, and I would much rather a different team inflict that on us tbh.
There is sunshine, craic, mountains etc in Mayo, Galway and Donegal also. Let it be there instead. ;o)"
Yes Fionn there is sunshine everywhere but not with views qnd pubs so close to stadium.I get your feelongs but if Dubs have Bugler back its a different game.In fact I just read earlier that Bugler says he will be back in days and he confident Dublin can take a big scalp in the championship.
Kerry are good but they can bw beaten too.Anyway hopefully the 4 groups provide some entertainment cos with 3 teams out of 4 qualifying its needed.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3879 - 30/04/2025 12:22:57    2605642

Link

Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Truly good managers integrate new players into their team when they are winning… this didn't happen with Dublin as he held onto or was too loyal to some players for too long… He is now trying to put square pegs into round holes and is being found out…!"
Nail on the head right there...!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 12:25:03    2605643

Link

Replying To CiarraiMick:  "That would be some occasion User.I know im biased but a big game in Killarney on a sunny day is bliss.The Cork fans love Killarney.The pitch is so close to the pubs its magic.A huge tourist town,music in the pubs and people drinking on the streets soaking up the athmosphere.I ve had glorious days days v Cork and indeed Mayo and Tyrone aswell as great Munster hurling games.It would be the icing on the cake for a Dubs v Kerry Killarney show in the Sun.The town would be rocking and the stadium would be some craic tool."
Great venue but good luck with the sunny day, the wettest county ground in the country, highest annual rainfall in the country.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 875 - 30/04/2025 12:34:18    2605647

Link

Replying To TrueBlue35:  "We all know both Lahiff and POCB are nowhere near intercounty standard so how we have let ourselves into this situation is baffling. I'd rather he moved a few around and stuck Howard and KK in there even and rotate with Bugler. As it stands if either of last week's midfielders are being relied upon for the upcoming games then we are in bother.

I'm not sure I can see a hammering on the cards though. IF and its a big IF we can regroup after last weekend and get our best 15 onto the field then I still think we can cause anyone bother. However at the moment the fear factor has well and truly gone but you'd hope amongst the more senior fellas in the squad that they are seriously hurting now and will get things moving in the right direction."
I knew that, you knew that, all Dublin fans knew that, any manager worth their salt knew that.
And I know for a fact Robbie Brennan and the Meath lads knew that also.

Baffling is one word to describe it.... I have a few others..... ;o(

How many Dublin kickouts did Meath win.... a blind man could see what was going to happen.

Where was Plan B..? And that is down to those on the line. They had plenty of time to have prepared for this.
Remember, this is a mid table Div 2 team - what on earth would Galway, Donegal or Kerry to to our midfield....

How anyone can say Dublin are still title contenders is beyond me tbh.
We are miles off it.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 12:53:27    2605657

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Killarney is wonderful place for a holiday, and an excellent venue - but not to see this skeleton of a Dublin team get obliterated by a very strong all Ireland contending kerry team...
There is a hammering on the cards this year for the Dubs, and I would much rather a different team inflict that on us tbh.
There is sunshine, craic, mountains etc in Mayo, Galway and Donegal also. Let it be there instead. ;o)"
As they say be careful what you wish for.You got yours Fionn but what a tough group.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3879 - 30/04/2025 13:59:02    2605679

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "I knew that, you knew that, all Dublin fans knew that, any manager worth their salt knew that.
And I know for a fact Robbie Brennan and the Meath lads knew that also.

Baffling is one word to describe it.... I have a few others..... ;o(

How many Dublin kickouts did Meath win.... a blind man could see what was going to happen.

Where was Plan B..? And that is down to those on the line. They had plenty of time to have prepared for this.
Remember, this is a mid table Div 2 team - what on earth would Galway, Donegal or Kerry to to our midfield....

How anyone can say Dublin are still title contenders is beyond me tbh.
We are miles off it."
To be honest I have never really warmed to Dessie. I feel he was lucky enough to get up and running with the Covid All Ireland, we made a balls of things in both '21 & '22 although if we'd Con in the latter semi final it might have been a different story. '23 I've heard but not sure how true it is that Gilroy was calling most of the shots. And last year is not worth talking about at all. Don't want to sound too greedy but the players he's had at his disposal over that time he should have won more in my opinion.

And unless our favourite waterboy reappears this year then I don't think we're at much either especially seeing the group we've just got!

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 224 - 30/04/2025 14:10:17    2605685

Link

Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Truly good managers integrate new players into their team when they are winning… this didn't happen with Dublin as he held onto or was too loyal to some players for too long… He is now trying to put square pegs into round holes and is being found out…!"
To be fair we lived through an era of just that, i can count at least 3/4 underage teams that fed into the 2011 squad and let to almost a decade and half of unprecedented success. We were very blessed to have those players. Im not sure we will see the moons align like they did for decades or ever again if im honest.

Im not a huge a huge Dessie fan (never have been), but i know he has been playing with a lighter deck then in the last few years, the 23 title was the last dance really. There isnt the quality to replace whats left.

When you scale never before reached heights the fall is big.

Its inevitable really and we have to embrace it.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4507 - 30/04/2025 14:11:11    2605687

Link

Great draw - actually delighted its a tough group.

The Very Thing!

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4507 - 30/04/2025 14:47:15    2605712

Link

Replying To TheUsername:  "Great draw - actually delighted its a tough group.

The Very Thing!"
Yep totally agree. If we can't qualify out of that group (only 1 gets eliminated) then we've no business being in the knockout stages anyway.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 224 - 30/04/2025 14:49:37    2605715

Link

Replying To TheUsername:  "Great draw - actually delighted its a tough group.

The Very Thing!"
Yep - happy with that group tbh.
Group 4: Galway/Mayo winner, Armagh/Donegal loser, Dublin, Derry
A trip to lovely Galway, Donegal and Derry I reckon.
Now we will see what Dessie is made of.... ;o)

This is some handy group though...:
Group 3 Louth/Meath winner, Kerry/Clare loser, Monaghan, Down

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 14:55:56    2605718

Link

Replying To TrueBlue35:  "To be honest I have never really warmed to Dessie. I feel he was lucky enough to get up and running with the Covid All Ireland, we made a balls of things in both '21 & '22 although if we'd Con in the latter semi final it might have been a different story. '23 I've heard but not sure how true it is that Gilroy was calling most of the shots. And last year is not worth talking about at all. Don't want to sound too greedy but the players he's had at his disposal over that time he should have won more in my opinion.

And unless our favourite waterboy reappears this year then I don't think we're at much either especially seeing the group we've just got!"
Yep the 2020, anyone could have coached that great team to Sam.

It was Pat would called the shots in 2023. I was told the exact same.
One last hurrah. What a year and what a final.
Such outpouring of emotion. I will never forget it.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 14:59:09    2605721

Link

Replying To TheUsername:  "To be fair we lived through an era of just that, i can count at least 3/4 underage teams that fed into the 2011 squad and let to almost a decade and half of unprecedented success. We were very blessed to have those players. Im not sure we will see the moons align like they did for decades or ever again if im honest.

Im not a huge a huge Dessie fan (never have been), but i know he has been playing with a lighter deck then in the last few years, the 23 title was the last dance really. There isnt the quality to replace whats left.

When you scale never before reached heights the fall is big.

Its inevitable really and we have to embrace it."
We will NEVER see the like again tbh.
Those moons aligning wont be repeated.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 15:01:15    2605724

Link

Replying To CiarraiMick:  "As they say be careful what you wish for.You got yours Fionn but what a tough group."
That draw is exactly the kick up the **** the Dublin players and management deserved.
No sympathy from me that is for sure.

it will be a short season this year for us, and no harm in that.
Looking forward to a full Dublin reset then...!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 15:12:47    2605731

Link

Ok so we have:-
Connacht winners Away - wkend 17th May - most likely Galway
Ulster losing finalist Home - June Bank H'day - I reckon Donegal
Derry Neutral - wkend 15th June - probably Breffni Pk.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 30/04/2025 19:03:23    2605837

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Yep the 2020, anyone could have coached that great team to Sam.

It was Pat would called the shots in 2023. I was told the exact same.
One last hurrah. What a year and what a final.
Such outpouring of emotion. I will never forget it."
I think you re being a little hard on Dessie ,Fionn. Its easy say this and that but the facts are Dessie was manager in 20 and 23.Who told you Gilroy was calling the shots? Was it the sme person that told me Jim Gavin was only a figure head and it was Declan Darcy calling the shots.

Tje same was said about Jimmy McGuinness in 2012 in that it was Rory Gallagher that was calling the shots.
The fact is Dub fans enjoyed the 23 final win nearly better than any and Dessie was the man in charge.
Has he failings?Yes but have nt they all? Desdie also comes acrosss as very gracious in both victory and defeat.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3879 - 30/04/2025 23:59:01    2605889

Link

Replying To CiarraiMick:  "I think you re being a little hard on Dessie ,Fionn. Its easy say this and that but the facts are Dessie was manager in 20 and 23.Who told you Gilroy was calling the shots? Was it the sme person that told me Jim Gavin was only a figure head and it was Declan Darcy calling the shots.

Tje same was said about Jimmy McGuinness in 2012 in that it was Rory Gallagher that was calling the shots.
The fact is Dub fans enjoyed the 23 final win nearly better than any and Dessie was the man in charge.
Has he failings?Yes but have nt they all? Desdie also comes acrosss as very gracious in both victory and defeat."
Let's see how good he is this season.
If he turns it around, I will gladly eat my hat.
But I won't be shining my knife and fork just yet....

I actually think the Dubs were under prepared for the new rules this year.
Goalkeeping kick outs, and midfield being the standout issues.

I have nothing against Dessie.
I have met him on numerous occasions and he is a lovely guy.
Probably too nice for it. ;o)
Is he a top coach - imo No.

And I know for a fact some of the players are not over enamoured with him.
2023 was one last push led by PG - everyone in Dublin knows that.

21, 22 and 24 - dont get me started on them years.....

Put it this way - with the players at his disposal from 2020 to 2024 - he only won 2 out of 5 All Irelands.
I can count many other managers out there today who would have won more with the players we had.

Let us see how we perform in the next 3 games.
If I was a betting man, I would say we will be lucky to win 1 of them.
The signs have been there all year. Look at the Wicklow game.
There were red flags flying from the roof tops are that performance.

Anyway, tick tock I reckon....

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4184 - 01/05/2025 09:09:28    2605923

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Let's see how good he is this season.
If he turns it around, I will gladly eat my hat.
But I won't be shining my knife and fork just yet....

I actually think the Dubs were under prepared for the new rules this year.
Goalkeeping kick outs, and midfield being the standout issues.

I have nothing against Dessie.
I have met him on numerous occasions and he is a lovely guy.
Probably too nice for it. ;o)
Is he a top coach - imo No.

And I know for a fact some of the players are not over enamoured with him.
2023 was one last push led by PG - everyone in Dublin knows that.

21, 22 and 24 - dont get me started on them years.....

Put it this way - with the players at his disposal from 2020 to 2024 - he only won 2 out of 5 All Irelands.
I can count many other managers out there today who would have won more with the players we had.

Let us see how we perform in the next 3 games.
If I was a betting man, I would say we will be lucky to win 1 of them.
The signs have been there all year. Look at the Wicklow game.
There were red flags flying from the roof tops are that performance.

Anyway, tick tock I reckon...."
I'd agree with a lot of that and also can't say a bad word about Dessie as a person and have had numerous dealings with him at various events etc and he's been a total gent.

I think a key point you mention also is that there have been plenty of rumblings about player dissatisfaction over the past number of seasons and with Dessie in particular. (2023 aside for the aforementioned reason) Paul Mannion for one I've heard from people in his own club would have played on this year for another manager. He was treated very poorly by Dessie I felt as he is clearly one of the top forwards in the country on his day but was dropped for Paddy Small in some huge games.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 224 - 01/05/2025 10:01:46    2605937

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "Let's see how good he is this season.
If he turns it around, I will gladly eat my hat.
But I won't be shining my knife and fork just yet....

I actually think the Dubs were under prepared for the new rules this year.
Goalkeeping kick outs, and midfield being the standout issues.

I have nothing against Dessie.
I have met him on numerous occasions and he is a lovely guy.
Probably too nice for it. ;o)
Is he a top coach - imo No.

And I know for a fact some of the players are not over enamoured with him.
2023 was one last push led by PG - everyone in Dublin knows that.

21, 22 and 24 - dont get me started on them years.....

Put it this way - with the players at his disposal from 2020 to 2024 - he only won 2 out of 5 All Irelands.
I can count many other managers out there today who would have won more with the players we had.

Let us see how we perform in the next 3 games.
If I was a betting man, I would say we will be lucky to win 1 of them.
The signs have been there all year. Look at the Wicklow game.
There were red flags flying from the roof tops are that performance.

Anyway, tick tock I reckon...."
I understand all that buthe also won minor and under 21 Ive met gim too.A very decent lad.I agree about new rules but he not alone.Both Dublin and Kerry have nt embraced the new rules aswell as other countues.We have hardly scored any 2 pointers and are conceding plenty.Its goals so far that have saved Kerry.There can only be one winner so I would nt judge Dessie on that.As you ve said yourself on a few posts,Losing Fenton was a game changer.Im not sure Jom Gavin would be doing any better.We will agree to disagree on Dessie but he will bring them out of the group and after that who knows.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3879 - 01/05/2025 10:13:12    2605945

Link