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Dublin GAA thread

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Replying To Fionn:  "CK has just announced his Inter County retirement.

What a player, what a warrior, what a legend of Dublin GAA.

Thank you Ciaran."
No words can describe the commitment and effort that he gave us over the years, a lot of which went unnoticed. He could have jacked it in last year but stayed on to help lead the lads under Ger. A true role model and one of the greats. Thanks for giving us some of the best sporting days of our lives CK.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4751 - 13/07/2026 13:17:23    2685585

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Replying To RoyalStalwart24:  "Sad news to hear, Kilkenny has been a great servant to Dublin and while he has caused my county plenty of pain over the years, it's clear he was a great talent and some player. Wish him well."
As a Gaelic football supporter it's a pity we won't see more of Ciaran Kilkenny on the big days out on the field. As a Kerryman it's a different story! He was really good again yesterday. So many facets to his game but humility and application are foremost. A true hero of the game

MunsterFan (Kerry) - Posts: 34 - 13/07/2026 13:52:24    2685592

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Ciaran Kilkenny, what a legend and I wish him all the best in hi retirement. Utter class until the end.

Shearer (Louth) - Posts: 942 - 13/07/2026 14:04:53    2685600

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What a player Ciaran Kilkenny has been. An absolute legend of the game and a great hurler also. Above all he was a great sportsman, win or lose.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1877 - 13/07/2026 14:24:40    2685605

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Killkenny is one of the all time great Dublin players - as tough a competitor as there every was.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1994 - 13/07/2026 15:22:22    2685614

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Wishing him all the best in retirement..he will go down as one of the great players in Dublin..I'd also like to say what a fabulous hurler he was as a minor..always came across as a really genuine fella..he will be missed.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2709 - 13/07/2026 17:11:33    2685637

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Replying To Fionn:  "Apologies Brayballer

I seriously over estimated how good Kerry actually are.
And seriously under estimated the level of improvement in our team since the Leinster Final of 8 weeks ago.

I honestly didn't think we could maintain it, but today our lads were exceptional and excellently coached by Ger and his team.

Proud - of all our players and their efforts today.
Gutted - with the result.
Angry - with the dodgy decisions.
Hopeful - for next year.

Key for Ger has to be, to keep our remaining stalwarts on board for next year.

The new lads will have learned so much and will have gained so much confidence from how they have turned the season around. I tip my hat to them.

A word too for the returning fans today.
What a turnout and what an atmosphere on the Hill."
No worries bud

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 753 - 13/07/2026 17:57:25    2685642

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Wishing him all the best in retirement..he will go down as one of the great players in Dublin..I'd also like to say what a fabulous hurler he was as a minor..always came across as a really genuine fella..he will be missed."
His talent was on view even as a juvenile. Wasn't he a member of the Castle Knick team that won the A Feile back in the day.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2308 - 13/07/2026 19:05:14    2685648

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Good luck to him in his retirement, what a career he had, sad when a player of his quality calls it a day.
15 years playing inter county and he finishes up as still one of the best players in the country, crazy consistency, phenomenal footballer.

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 689 - 14/07/2026 00:05:29    2685689

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Dublin had the rub of the green in the quarter final. It went against them then in semi final. That's the way the cookie crumbles. More often than not decisions seem to favour Dublin in their home league ground. Usually a double whammy on top of drawing Dublin in their home league ground at the business end of the championship.

Dublin actually got a flavour on Sunday of what it is like to be the away team. Tyrone have set the blueprint in the 25 quarter final. All Ireland contenders have to be able to flip the script against Dublin in Croke Park. Anyone not prepared for the battle of playing Dublin in Croke Park are going to come up short. Donegal and Galway will have a winter of regrets.

Mayo are going to be a tough opponent. They were only knocked out by the last kick of the game against Donegal last year. Small margins. Mayo have been the more impressive in the quarter and semi finals. Similar to Tyrone, Mayo will be quietly confident within their camp.

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 208 - 14/07/2026 11:25:29    2685714

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And so goes the last remaining member of the Class of the 93 babies (2011 Minors) with Ciaran Kilkenny's retirement. Costello and I think Davey Bryne and Scully were part of that 2011 minor team/panel, but they were all minor again in 2012, so 94 babies.

But it is mad to think that they're all retired by 33, when I originally thought some of would definitely play into their late 30s. But I suppose the way the game has gone now and for these players the same hunger and drive probably just wasn't there any more. Hard blame any of them with all the success they had and they owe Dublin and the GAA in general absolutely nothing.

It's just sad that we won't get to see any of those players from the greatest generation of players I've seen (I'm a fellow 90s baby myself) on the biggest stage anymore. Guess just more of a reason now to watch the Dublin Club Championship this year. Without doubt, the greatest return ever from any minor team and Fenton didn't even make it. I don't think we'll see anything that return with such a high level of success at senior level ever again. Looking back all these years later, Tipp probably don't get the full credit they deserve for beating Dublin in that final. BTW, was a fantastic Tipp team also and they got a great return from it also.

Now that they've all retired and in general most links to the 6-in-a-row are nearly gone, I hope tv/media production company will make a documentary on those players. I think it's a no-brainer and would make for great viewing. Their story from the development squads right to the top, club rivalries from the beginning all the way to senior level, how Fenton wasn't deemed good enough at 18 and arguably ended being the best of the lot, etc, etc.

GerBo (Roscommon) - Posts: 106 - 14/07/2026 11:36:04    2685716

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All the best to Kilkenny…what a player. I'm hoping our of does similar and returns from Oz.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12212 - 14/07/2026 12:26:10    2685725

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Wishing him all the best in retirement..he will go down as one of the great players in Dublin..I'd also like to say what a fabulous hurler he was as a minor..always came across as a really genuine fella..he will be missed."
Himself and Costello were on 2012 minors beaten by Tipp in final after replay. Hurlings loss was footballs gain. Again..

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4485 - 14/07/2026 13:11:25    2685727

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Replying To GerBo:  "And so goes the last remaining member of the Class of the 93 babies (2011 Minors) with Ciaran Kilkenny's retirement. Costello and I think Davey Bryne and Scully were part of that 2011 minor team/panel, but they were all minor again in 2012, so 94 babies.

But it is mad to think that they're all retired by 33, when I originally thought some of would definitely play into their late 30s. But I suppose the way the game has gone now and for these players the same hunger and drive probably just wasn't there any more. Hard blame any of them with all the success they had and they owe Dublin and the GAA in general absolutely nothing.

It's just sad that we won't get to see any of those players from the greatest generation of players I've seen (I'm a fellow 90s baby myself) on the biggest stage anymore. Guess just more of a reason now to watch the Dublin Club Championship this year. Without doubt, the greatest return ever from any minor team and Fenton didn't even make it. I don't think we'll see anything that return with such a high level of success at senior level ever again. Looking back all these years later, Tipp probably don't get the full credit they deserve for beating Dublin in that final. BTW, was a fantastic Tipp team also and they got a great return from it also.

Now that they've all retired and in general most links to the 6-in-a-row are nearly gone, I hope tv/media production company will make a documentary on those players. I think it's a no-brainer and would make for great viewing. Their story from the development squads right to the top, club rivalries from the beginning all the way to senior level, how Fenton wasn't deemed good enough at 18 and arguably ended being the best of the lot, etc, etc."
Yeah they did a documentary on the Tyrone Minors of 97,98 in TG4 called Unbreakbale Bond, about how the most on of any Minor Team went onto win All Irelands at Senior. Think something like 13 players from them Tyrone Minor teams won All Irelands at Senior level. They also had a bit of heartache.

But that 2011 Dublin Minor Team have to be the greatest Minor team not to win an All Ireland. Especially when you consider how many All Ireland medals they won at Senior. A few of them also played in the Minor hurling final in 2011 as well. In fairness that was a decent Tipp team with the likes of Quinlivan, O'Riordan, Steven O'Brien, Bill Maher, John McGrath, Liam McGrath, Evan Comerford, a lot of them were part of the 2020 Munster winning team and team that got to the All Irelands Semi final in 2016.

CartaDubh (Clare) - Posts: 60 - 14/07/2026 13:40:34    2685730

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Replying To CartaDubh:  "Yeah they did a documentary on the Tyrone Minors of 97,98 in TG4 called Unbreakbale Bond, about how the most on of any Minor Team went onto win All Irelands at Senior. Think something like 13 players from them Tyrone Minor teams won All Irelands at Senior level. They also had a bit of heartache.

But that 2011 Dublin Minor Team have to be the greatest Minor team not to win an All Ireland. Especially when you consider how many All Ireland medals they won at Senior. A few of them also played in the Minor hurling final in 2011 as well. In fairness that was a decent Tipp team with the likes of Quinlivan, O'Riordan, Steven O'Brien, Bill Maher, John McGrath, Liam McGrath, Evan Comerford, a lot of them were part of the 2020 Munster winning team and team that got to the All Irelands Semi final in 2016."
There was some great returns from minor teams in 2011 into senior in general. Even my own county Ros, who Tipp beat in the semis, got some return also. The Smith brothers, Conor Daly, Colm Lavin, John McManus and David Murray. Conor Hussey, who was a sub on that team played a key role in our 2019 Connacht success.
Talking about greatest minor teams never to win the All-Ireland, surely the Clare hurling team in 2011 falls into the catergory also (Limerick in 2014 also). Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin, Shane O'Donnell, Peter Duggan, David Reidy, Seadna Morley. Were Ryan Taylor and Conor Cleary involved also? Maybe their 2010 team was stronger?

Going a bit off topic here for a Dublin GAA trend though haha, apologies Dubs fan

GerBo (Roscommon) - Posts: 106 - 14/07/2026 16:54:23    2685755

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Replying To GerBo:  "There was some great returns from minor teams in 2011 into senior in general. Even my own county Ros, who Tipp beat in the semis, got some return also. The Smith brothers, Conor Daly, Colm Lavin, John McManus and David Murray. Conor Hussey, who was a sub on that team played a key role in our 2019 Connacht success.
Talking about greatest minor teams never to win the All-Ireland, surely the Clare hurling team in 2011 falls into the catergory also (Limerick in 2014 also). Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin, Shane O'Donnell, Peter Duggan, David Reidy, Seadna Morley. Were Ryan Taylor and Conor Cleary involved also? Maybe their 2010 team was stronger?

Going a bit off topic here for a Dublin GAA trend though haha, apologies Dubs fan"
Yeah obviously Dublin won 2012 Minor Final, with Costello, Byrne, Eric Lowndes, Niall Scully and Conor McHugh in the team. Yeah Dublin beat Roscommon in the 2014 U21 final, which was obviously another star studded Dublin team, that Kilkenny missed out on because of injury.

Yeah Cleary would have been in the following years Minor team, he actually played 2 years Minor football for Clare. I don't actually think Ryan Taylor played Minor for Clare, well he wasn't a start anyway, he definitely played u21 for Clare alright.

Yeah the Clare 2010 Minor Team had Kelly, Morey, Galvin, Podge Collins, Cathal Malone, Paul Flanagan, while David McInerney and Aaron Cunningham were subs. They all won U21 and Senior All Irelands with Clare.

CartaDubh (Clare) - Posts: 60 - 14/07/2026 18:15:45    2685764

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Legend.

Thanks for the great days and memories Ciaran.

Remembered and revered wherever Sky Blue is worn.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4532 - 14/07/2026 21:01:19    2685779

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