Dubs v Westmeath 25 June

[From the Bunker]

Sorry I thought that was a coherent idea you had but apparently you were just throwing out random shite as you don't have any solution to the problems we have. So, just to be crystal clear, we split Dublin and leave everything else as it is and we will be ok?

Do you not see the Problems? Do you not see the HUGE inequality? What is your solution? And don't say that cash cow Super 8 is?

[armaghniac]

Complete nonsense. All you post recently when it comes to Dublin is their funding when any rational person would acknowledge that there's more to their dominance than that. Please show me your posts bemoaning the financial, and more, advantages Mayo enjoy over Leitrim and others? The GAA has never been a fair fight so why all the moaning now from people whose counties have enjoyed massive advantages for 100 years or more?

Mayo is roughly comparable in size to the likes of Kerry, Donegal and has always had a populous competitor in their own province. Leitrim is an outlier on the smaller side, it is they themselves that suffer from this. Having Dublin with the population of a province is ridiculous and you know perfectly well it is ridiculous yet you keep coming on here defending it like a DUP spokesman defending the Plantation of Ulster.

Leitrim isn't the only example, what about Carlow, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, or the hurling counties in Munster? Many counties have significantly smaller population and financial support than the likes of Mayo or Kerry so what makes Dublin unique?

As I said, if a smaller county is happy to play then any disadvantage comes on themselves, not those they play. The population of  Mayo is twice that of Monaghan, the population of Dublin is 10 times Mayo. Competitive games will still happen with a two or threefold difference, not with a 10 fold one. The hurling counties of Munster have a big population, if hurling is more popular then that is not the same thing at all.

[From the Bunker]

Complete nonsense. All you post recently when it comes to Dublin is their funding when any rational person would acknowledge that there's more to their dominance than that. Please show me your posts bemoaning the financial, and more, advantages Mayo enjoy over Leitrim and others? The GAA has never been a fair fight so why all the moaning now from people whose counties have enjoyed massive advantages for 100 years or more?

If you want to argue that there should be a better spread of funding then fair enough but if you think that will make a big difference then you're in cloud cuckoo land.

You are right it's not just about funding! It's about home advantage! It about lads with jobs that make them full time professionals. It's about sponsorship. It's about sleeping in your own bed the night before a big game. It's about providing top facilities on your doorstep. It's about controlling the media and blackening players that are a threat to your team. But hey stick your Blue head in the sand and enjoy the ride. Cos it going to last a long time. But there aint going to be many outsiders watching when it's over.

Right, Mayo and Kerry certainly enjoy a significant media presence and play the game as well as anyone else. Croke Park is our national stadium and both players and many supporters want to be there though I'd imagine few Dub supporters have any problem travelling to games.

According to the Cunningham on the radio today Dublin aren't the only county getting meals provided or have jobs that make them fulltime professionals.

Perhaps rather than complaining about 'professional' players (proof please) or the big bad media (with as many Mayo lads as anyone) you can lay out how you are going to make it a level playing field for the likes of Leitrim, Mayo and Dublin?

We are not talking about a level playing field. We are talking about a Hill that has become a mountain. There is no way back. the GAA have set where we are in stone and it will be the end of our games in the long run. The GAA don't care at the moment and probably wont care in the future. Luckily there is still a club scene that most of us can go back to within our county. That has been and will be the savour of the game within most counties.

Ok, so it's fine for Mayo have inherent advantages over Leitrim but not Dublin? The GAA do care and are redistributing funding but a county with near 2 million people will, usually, be the best in the country when most other counties have less than 200,000 people. So the only way to change that is to split them but if you are splitting Dublin then why not other counties that have big populations?

What counties do you suggest?

[Zulu]

Because it's nonsense. Population and the hard work of volunteers is a huge part of it too. Of course funding should be available to all counties and those with good plans should be supported but Dublin's population will ensure most counties will rarely compete with them again.

Population yes volunteers is no every county has hard working volunteers.

Dublin have many organic factors population and culture being one. It's the inorganic factors that you are your ilk refuse to recognise as the primary factors for Dublin's success finance and home advantage. It's not rocket science..

I'm not refusing to recognise anything Dinny. Population, when harnessed, is the most significant factor. Not every county has the same number of hard working volunteers. Dublin would have loads of volunteers and with success they are very focused and kids are very engaged. 

Of course money is a factor, a significant one, and if anyone is talking about a fairer distribution of funding or increasing funding to certain counties I'd be in total agreement but Dublin will always be a strong because they have the numbers and are now organised.

I'm not in favour of hindering Dublin but I'm completely supportive of helping other counties.

Dublin have never been as dominant in Leinster as they are now, they have always had success due to population and tradition/culture but two major significant changes happened in the last 15 years Bertie and the GAA started pumping millions into Dublin at a vastly disproportionate rate and then inexplicably Dublin have been allowed commandeer Croke Park as their home venue. Anyone who knows anything about sport knows the more you invest the more chance of success, likewise teams win more at home than away. I can't imagine any sport that allows one play at home for all its games in it's primary competition.

The only people that should enjoy Dublin should be economists...it really is a Freakonomics podcast in waiting..

Dinny, you know as well as I do that for the bulk of the GAA's existence Dublin were not tapping into their population. They are now and are getting way more kids involve in the GAA than they did in the past. This is being reflected in their performances on the pitch. Coaching standards have improved too so young kids are becoming more rounded footballers. Bigger numbers and better coaching means better Dublin players.

I couldn't care less where Dublin play but I have no issue with accommodating crowds of 50K+ in the only ground that can handle it. Not bothered about where Dublin play myself.

[Zulu]

Sorry I thought that was a coherent idea you had but apparently you were just throwing out random shite as you don't have any solution to the problems we have. So, just to be crystal clear, we split Dublin and leave everything else as it is and we will be ok?

You seem to be getting very upset now that everyone has cottoned on to how ridiculous and intransient your stance is. You're talking about adults when it's you who has some growing up left to do.

What's ridiculous about it? Are you taking back your suggestion of amalgamating teams? Just so I know what the hell you actually think.

[Zulu]

Sorry I thought that was a coherent idea you had but apparently you were just throwing out random shite as you don't have any solution to the problems we have. So, just to be crystal clear, we split Dublin and leave everything else as it is and we will be ok?

Do you not see the Problems? Do you not see the HUGE inequality? What is your solution? And don't say that cash cow Super 8 is?

So, you agree we should split counties and amalgamate others? Do you really think that's a realistic solution?

[Il Bomber Destro]

It's about controlling the media and blackening players that are a threat to your team.

Did you have any criticism at the time for James Horan's comments in relation to Donegal and Michael Murphy and Joe McQuillan. They certainly intended to blacken the names of those people.

I'd also be interested to see what you felt about Kevin McStay going on a crusade to get Philly McMahon banned against Mayo.

Totally agree! Yeah! The Big guns do this all the time! Don't remember the Philly gig but you can be sure it happened! Luckily you come from a county who never partake in any of that sort of mind games. You are so lucky. Blessed I'd say!

I just find the indignation about this incident a bit funny considering your own county partake in similar methods.

[Dinny Breen]

1. Stop the ridiculous funding
2. Move them out of Croke Park for the league and Leinster bar the final
3. Sell the shirt sponsorship for every county to the highest bidder, funds go into a central pot.
4. Cap all expenditure, any over spend to be hit with wealth tax as per the AFL

That's just off the top of my head if the GAA want fair and equitable games they need to think more socialist less capitalist.

[Zulu]

Complete nonsense. All you post recently when it comes to Dublin is their funding when any rational person would acknowledge that there's more to their dominance than that. Please show me your posts bemoaning the financial, and more, advantages Mayo enjoy over Leitrim and others? The GAA has never been a fair fight so why all the moaning now from people whose counties have enjoyed massive advantages for 100 years or more?

Mayo is roughly comparable in size to the likes of Kerry, Donegal and has always had a populous competitor in their own province. Leitrim is an outlier on the smaller side, it is they themselves that suffer from this. Having Dublin with the population of a province is ridiculous and you know perfectly well it is ridiculous yet you keep coming on here defending it like a DUP spokesman defending the Plantation of Ulster.

Leitrim isn't the only example, what about Carlow, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, or the hurling counties in Munster? Many counties have significantly smaller population and financial support than the likes of Mayo or Kerry so what makes Dublin unique?

As I said, if a smaller county is happy to play then any disadvantage comes on themselves, not those they play. The population of  Mayo is twice that of Monaghan, the population of Dublin is 10 times Mayo. Competitive games will still happen with a two or threefold difference, not with a 10 fold one. The hurling counties of Munster have a big population, if hurling is more popular then that is not the same thing at all.

Ok, so if Mayo have a population 5 times that of Leitrim it's ok as Leitrim are happy to tog and if some counties prefer hurling that's ok but it's not ok if Dublin have 10 times the population of Mayo? Antrim, Cork and Down have 15 times the population of Leitrim or Longford is that a problem?

[From the Bunker]

It's about controlling the media and blackening players that are a threat to your team.

Did you have any criticism at the time for James Horan's comments in relation to Donegal and Michael Murphy and Joe McQuillan. They certainly intended to blacken the names of those people.

I'd also be interested to see what you felt about Kevin McStay going on a crusade to get Philly McMahon banned against Mayo.

Totally agree! Yeah! The Big guns do this all the time! Don't remember the Philly gig but you can be sure it happened! Luckily you come from a county who never partake in any of that sort of mind games. You are so lucky. Blessed I'd say!

I just find the indignation about this incident a bit funny considering your own county partake in similar methods.

So do you agree with your county partaking in mind games yourself or would you rather them to be squeeky clean?

[Zulu]

1. Stop the ridiculous funding
2. Move them out of Croke Park for the league and Leinster bar the final
3. Sell the shirt sponsorship for every county to the highest bidder, funds go into a central pot.
4. Cap all expenditure, any over spend to be hit with wealth tax as per the AFL

That's just off the top of my head if the GAA want fair and equitable games they need to think more socialist less capitalist.

It's late but I don't have any real issue with that.

[Zulu]

Complete nonsense. All you post recently when it comes to Dublin is their funding when any rational person would acknowledge that there's more to their dominance than that. Please show me your posts bemoaning the financial, and more, advantages Mayo enjoy over Leitrim and others? The GAA has never been a fair fight so why all the moaning now from people whose counties have enjoyed massive advantages for 100 years or more?

If you want to argue that there should be a better spread of funding then fair enough but if you think that will make a big difference then you're in cloud cuckoo land.

You are right it's not just about funding! It's about home advantage! It about lads with jobs that make them full time professionals. It's about sponsorship. It's about sleeping in your own bed the night before a big game. It's about providing top facilities on your doorstep. It's about controlling the media and blackening players that are a threat to your team. But hey stick your Blue head in the sand and enjoy the ride. Cos it going to last a long time. But there aint going to be many outsiders watching when it's over.

Right, Mayo and Kerry certainly enjoy a significant media presence and play the game as well as anyone else. Croke Park is our national stadium and both players and many supporters want to be there though I'd imagine few Dub supporters have any problem travelling to games.

According to the Cunningham on the radio today Dublin aren't the only county getting meals provided or have jobs that make them fulltime professionals.

Perhaps rather than complaining about 'professional' players (proof please) or the big bad media (with as many Mayo lads as anyone) you can lay out how you are going to make it a level playing field for the likes of Leitrim, Mayo and Dublin?

We are not talking about a level playing field. We are talking about a Hill that has become a mountain. There is no way back. the GAA have set where we are in stone and it will be the end of our games in the long run. The GAA don't care at the moment and probably wont care in the future. Luckily there is still a club scene that most of us can go back to within our county. That has been and will be the savour of the game within most counties.

Ok, so it's fine for Mayo have inherent advantages over Leitrim but not Dublin? The GAA do care and are redistributing funding but a county with near 2 million people will, usually, be the best in the country when most other counties have less than 200,000 people. So the only way to change that is to split them but if you are splitting Dublin then why not other counties that have big populations?

What counties do you suggest?

I don't think we should be splitting any counties.

[From the Bunker]

Complete nonsense. All you post recently when it comes to Dublin is their funding when any rational person would acknowledge that there's more to their dominance than that. Please show me your posts bemoaning the financial, and more, advantages Mayo enjoy over Leitrim and others? The GAA has never been a fair fight so why all the moaning now from people whose counties have enjoyed massive advantages for 100 years or more?

Mayo is roughly comparable in size to the likes of Kerry, Donegal and has always had a populous competitor in their own province. Leitrim is an outlier on the smaller side, it is they themselves that suffer from this. Having Dublin with the population of a province is ridiculous and you know perfectly well it is ridiculous yet you keep coming on here defending it like a DUP spokesman defending the Plantation of Ulster.

Leitrim isn't the only example, what about Carlow, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, or the hurling counties in Munster? Many counties have significantly smaller population and financial support than the likes of Mayo or Kerry so what makes Dublin unique?

As I said, if a smaller county is happy to play then any disadvantage comes on themselves, not those they play. The population of  Mayo is twice that of Monaghan, the population of Dublin is 10 times Mayo. Competitive games will still happen with a two or threefold difference, not with a 10 fold one. The hurling counties of Munster have a big population, if hurling is more popular then that is not the same thing at all.

Ok, so if Mayo have a population 5 times that of Leitrim it's ok as Leitrim are happy to tog and if some counties prefer hurling that's ok but it's not ok if Dublin have 10 times the population of Mayo? Antrim, Cork and Down have 15 times the population of Leitrim or Longford is that a problem?

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE WAY DUBLIN GAA ARE GETTING THE EXTRA ADVANTAGES? SIMPLE YES OR NO?

I know you don't attend matches, you live in the UK! Spend no money on going/travelling to GAA matches!

[Syferus]

1. Stop the ridiculous funding
2. Move them out of Croke Park for the league and Leinster bar the final
3. Sell the shirt sponsorship for every county to the highest bidder, funds go into a central pot.
4. Cap all expenditure, any over spend to be hit with wealth tax as per the AFL

That's just off the top of my head if the GAA want fair and equitable games they need to think more socialist less capitalist.

All major American sports implement hard caps and a multitude of other measures aimed to redistribute wealth and support smaller market teams because they know the only way the product is viable long term is with as much parity as humanly possible.

Why Zulu refuses to see the forest for the trees is a question that comes back to intention - is he part of the Dublin support network that willfully ignores all these facts or is he just on here on an alt account to try to wind up others? I have my doubts at this stage.

[Dinny Breen]

1. Stop the ridiculous funding
2. Move them out of Croke Park for the league and Leinster bar the final
3. Sell the shirt sponsorship for every county to the highest bidder, funds go into a central pot.
4. Cap all expenditure, any over spend to be hit with wealth tax as per the AFL

That's just off the top of my head if the GAA want fair and equitable games they need to think more socialist less capitalist.

It's late but I don't have any real issue with that.

Romantic Ireland is dead though.