Dont see the big deal here, Dublin have the fans to fill Croke park so let them play there. If the opposition can not get themselves up to play against Dublin in a packed Croke Park there are not All Ireland contenders anyways. The one thing I do disagree with is if Dublin are aloud to train in Croke park.

ballaghmen (Mayo) - Posts: 318 - 25/05/2013 11:42:00    1390975

Dont see the big deal here, Dublin have the fans to fill Croke park so let them play there. If the opposition can not get themselves up to play against Dublin in a packed Croke Park there are not All Ireland contenders anyways. The one thing I do disagree with is if Dublin are aloud to train in Croke park

______


Exactly, The best team thrive against the Dubs in Croker.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 25/05/2013 11:49:29    1390977

its only since 2006 dublin played all championship matches in croke park.
so go back to the 70 tys and count the amount of times dublin were beaten outside croke park in the championship between the 70tys and 2006 I guarantee you that you will only need one hand to do this and it might leave you with a finger or two to spare at that.
now in the same time frame count the amount of times dublin were beaten in the championship in croke park only in leinster even and you will find the number will dwarf the outside croke park defeats.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 25/05/2013 12:29:39    1390989

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 7117

1390959
Joxer
I think you missed the point themaster. Again you are assuming that the advantage of playing in Dublin outweighs the disadvantage of the huge weight of expectation on the players shoulders.

It is yourself that is missing the point. The above is true, if the team is good enough. Obviously the kilkenny footballers can play at home all day and it wont be enough, but in a tight game, with two evenly matched teams, it could make all the difference. This bottling thing is a load of guff. A soundbite that people use, the reality is if you lose it means you werent good enough. People say mayo bottled it against kerry, the truth is they were a superior outfit. The same applies to dublin.

-------

Dublin have been a superior outfit to Mayo for a long time yet lost two semis to that inferior team despite this huge advantage of playing at home. The fact is that the stats don't bear this out. There is no big advantage to playing in Croker, Parnell Park certainly, but Croker is a venue where all of the top teams have played plenty of times. The fact that there are more Dubs at the game is not relevant as we will swamp any ground regardless of venue.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4746 - 25/05/2013 13:07:58    1391001

The point is joxer it is more of an advantage to Dublin in the leinster Chamnpionship because like you said in August the likes of Mayo,Kerry Cork etc are used to Croke park and the dubs on the big day. I think it is more an advantage since the spring series and particulary in the early stages of Leinster just look at Louth V Dublin last year it will be the same for Westmeath this year and I believe in 2009 Kildare made the leinster Final to face Dublin. Kildare's first time in Croke Park that year was the actual leinster final where as Dublin had played their quarter and semi final games there.
For the young lads to face Dublin then on Leinster final day must have been very intimadating.
but sure the Gaa dont run a fair championship its Grab all association now!

lilywhitemagic (Kildare) - Posts: 1693 - 25/05/2013 13:28:08    1391007

Good post Hill,You're right, People only remember facts that suit their argument but forget everything in between

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 25/05/2013 13:55:09    1391025

I think Dublin are a bit too flexible to be honest, the biggest advantage that stems from Dublin's involvement in GAA is revenue and most of this revenue from Dublin's people's pockets is shared around the country. In my opinion Dublin should build an independent 50,000 stadium and keep the money from gate receipts in Dublin GAA if we have to play away so be it but we'd be far better off financially and the rest of the beggers who give out about the Croke Park advantage Dublin have would have more time on their hands to fund-raise for their County Board's who are operating far beyond their means whilst being in debt.

The Master alludes to Dublin's advantages at any given opportunity be it population to the latest endeavour which is playing in Croke Park yet Connaught Final's which involve Mayo are regularly held in the biggest WHITE ELEPHANT West Of The Shannon McHale Park !? Is this fair ? Mayo are in hugh debt yet operate like a GAA superpower poaching fitness coaches from Kerry and training in international locations up until this year, is it fair on the Leitrim's of this world that Mayo can indulge themselves with massive and lavish resources while being in debt ?

The GAA should severely punish counties who are in debt as the biggest advantage in this world is spending money you don't have not playing on a field of grass in your locality.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 25/05/2013 14:03:18    1391028

Good man Bluewave another 50,000 stadium in Dublin!
Is that you Bertie?

Get over yourselves its only natural you will have bigger crowds.
Your population is massive and the stadium is in your back garden.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 25/05/2013 15:03:49    1391049

I can't believe some people are trying to argue that playing every game at home isn't an advantage for Dublin.
Jeez lads, talk about delusional.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 25/05/2013 16:39:13    1391085

lilywhitemagic
County: Kildare
Posts: 1511

1391007
The point is joxer it is more of an advantage to Dublin in the leinster Chamnpionship because like you said in August the likes of Mayo,Kerry Cork etc are used to Croke park and the dubs on the big day. I think it is more an advantage since the spring series and particulary in the early stages of Leinster just look at Louth V Dublin last year it will be the same for Westmeath this year and I believe in 2009 Kildare made the leinster Final to face Dublin. Kildare's first time in Croke Park that year was the actual leinster final where as Dublin had played their quarter and semi final games there.
For the young lads to face Dublin then on Leinster final day must have been very intimadating.
but sure the Gaa dont run a fair championship its Grab all association now!
25/05/2013 13:55:09

--------

Yeah you're right about the weaker counties in Leinster perhaps being at a disadvantage but certainly not the likes of Meath and Kildare where Croker is a home away from home. Also there is an argument that Dublin would beat those weaker counties on most occasions anyway regardless of venue.

I'm not arguing that it's not an advantage. I'm saying that it has it's disadvantages as well. Certainly if Dublin were playing all of their games at their home ground, Parnell Park, then that would be a total advantage to Dublin as the lads know every inch of that pitch.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4746 - 25/05/2013 21:22:04    1391254

25/05/2013 14:03:18
Bluewave
I think Dublin are a bit too flexible to be honest, the biggest advantage that stems from Dublin's involvement in GAA is revenue and most of this revenue from Dublin's people's pockets is shared around the country. In my opinion Dublin should build an independent 50,000 stadium and keep the money from gate receipts in Dublin GAA if we have to play away so be it but we'd be far better off financially and the rest of the beggers who give out about the Croke Park advantage Dublin have would have more time on their hands to fund-raise for their County Board's who are operating far beyond their means whilst being in debt.

The Master alludes to Dublin's advantages at any given opportunity be it population to the latest endeavour which is playing in Croke Park yet Connaught Final's which involve Mayo are regularly held in the biggest WHITE ELEPHANT West Of The Shannon McHale Park !? Is this fair ? Mayo are in hugh debt yet operate like a GAA superpower poaching fitness coaches from Kerry and training in international locations up until this year, is it fair on the Leitrim's of this world that Mayo can indulge themselves with massive and lavish resources while being in debt ?

The GAA should severely punish counties who are in debt as the biggest advantage in this world is spending money you don't have not playing on a field of grass in your locality.
Why waste money building a stadium that wouldn't be used enough to make it viable?
How should the GAA "severely punish counties who are in debt"? What would a suitable punishment be?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 25/05/2013 21:36:17    1391269

Why would it not be viable ? Do you realise how much money the Dublin brand generates ? Dublin are wasting money as it is funding the association while others leach resources,as for punishment me personally I would consider competition expulsion for a length of time.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 25/05/2013 22:01:30    1391286

I dont see it as an advantage in the All-Ireland series and two All-Ireland win since the last 30 years would indicate this. Certainly Tyrone love playing Dublin in Croke Park with the big crowds etc. It looks as if it is an advantage in the Leinster series so maybe we should see more games like Longford v Dublin in 2006.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 26/05/2013 09:14:22    1391294

Byanthon
County: Tyrone
Posts: 476

1391294 I dont see it as an advantage in the All-Ireland series and two All-Ireland win since the last 30 years would indicate this. Certainly Tyrone love playing Dublin in Croke Park with the big crowds etc. It looks as if it is an advantage in the Leinster series so maybe we should see more games like Longford v Dublin in 2006.

Exactly good post,
That is what all us Dubs have been saying.
Leinster final , all ireland semis and allireland final in croker after that grounds that can hold crowds safely. ye wont get too many complaints on that.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 26/05/2013 10:57:26    1391317

A highlight for any supporter of a competitive team is to take the Dubs on in Croke Park. It's what has us buzzing this year as it was the one notch we didn't get on our belt last year.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 26/05/2013 11:28:56    1391334

waynoI
County: Dublin
Posts: 5815

1391025
Good post Hill,You're right, People only remember facts that suit their argument but forget everything in between

exactly and i notice by the lack of posters complaining about dublin playing in croker none of them have responded to the question i asked.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 26/05/2013 12:11:05    1391354

Bluewave, what county board, in this day and age can build a debt-free inter-county ground for cash? Only the likes of yourself can buy a house for cash and not expect a mortgage to pay off the debt for years to come. McHale Park was falling down, not only falling down but the viewing area of the pitch was restricted by the pillars holding up the stand. It should have been upgraded years ago. A third or more county boards are in debt. As for poaching coaches outside the county while in debt? plenty of examples of that, Kildare being one. "International" training camps? These camps in Portugal were proven to have been more cost-effective than a home training camp.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8112 - 26/05/2013 12:32:49    1391361

GreenandRed

More cost effective than Belmullet hahaha pull the other one ! It may have needed alterations to make the stadium safe not a gigantic upgrade that Mayo will never be able to pay for. The fact you compared yourself to Kildare says it all really, shameful. I find it laughable that Mayo & Kildare supporters have the audacity to criticise Dublin when they operate far beyond their means grabbing any advantage they can even when they can't afford it. Auditors should be sent in to inspect their accounts.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 26/05/2013 12:49:06    1391372

Let them audit away Bluewave. I'm not saying the Mayo county board haven't made mistakes but you don't know the ground will never be paid off either. They used to run concerts in it years ago to raise a few quid, but the had standards. Neil Diamond never put a foot in McHale Park !

But then again the Dublin County Board don't own their own Championship standard ground. All other counties own their grounds for championshiop games. Dublin surely get plenty of revenue back from Croke Park for chamoionship games without the expense of security, vendors, ticket sellers etc. If they don't they should look into it. 50,000 seater stadiums don't come free.

In the meantime best of luck to ye. Any county whinging about having to play the Dubs in Croke Park aren't contenders like Donegal, Tyrone or Kerry. Challenges like that should be relished rather than feared. That's why I expect those 3 and yerselves to be tis years semi-finalists.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8112 - 26/05/2013 13:28:09    1391385

Best of luck to Mayo too I expect you to at least make a Semi Final.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 26/05/2013 13:45:48    1391396