Dubs v Westmeath 25 June

[From the Bunker]

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.

That it is! That it is!

But the Dublin volunteer is alive and kicking and making the real difference!

[lenny]

Today was a huge mismatch but that shouldn't take from yet another sublime display of Gaelic football by this Dublin team. However, I expect that the manner of Dublin's win will not faze Kildare as it will shift the focus away from Kildare and onto Dublin and that is surely what Kildare would want.

I think there might be a great Leinster final in prospect.

Why have Kildare won the lotto and not told anyone?  Today the divide between the have and the have nots was evident. Until all counties are funded with equal resources the dubs will not be beat in Leinster and possibly  in Ireland. It's a disgrace lads.

Do dublin hurlers not get the same funding? Where is their total domination? It isn't down to funding, the dubs simply have a great group of players.

You just keep the blinkers on! You'll be all the more happier with your teams success that way. Acknowledging money being involved in your success can take the gleam off of things.

Dublin aren't as dominant as kerry were in the 70s and I didn't hear anyone say then it was all to do with money. Kerry simply got credit for being a good team. Dublin hurlers are getting the same funding and looked like they were improving significantly but now look like they have gone backwards a good bit. The fundings still the same so results aren't directly related to funding. The dubs simply have a superb group of players and a great manager, let's just enjoy them and give them credit. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me at all if kerry, mayo or tyrone beat them this year, they are nowhere near unbeatable.

[manfromdelmonte]

Today was a huge mismatch but that shouldn't take from yet another sublime display of Gaelic football by this Dublin team. However, I expect that the manner of Dublin's win will not faze Kildare as it will shift the focus away from Kildare and onto Dublin and that is surely what Kildare would want.

I think there might be a great Leinster final in prospect.

Why have Kildare won the lotto and not told anyone?  Today the divide between the have and the have nots was evident. Until all counties are funded with equal resources the dubs will not be beat in Leinster and possibly  in Ireland. It's a disgrace lads.

Do dublin hurlers not get the same funding? Where is their total domination? It isn't down to funding, the dubs simply have a great group of players.

You just keep the blinkers on! You'll be all the more happier with your teams success that way. Acknowledging money being involved in your success can take the gleam off of things.

Dublin aren't as dominant as kerry were in the 70s and I didn't hear anyone say then it was all to do with money. Kerry simply got credit for being a good team. Dublin hurlers are getting the same funding and looked like they were improving significantly but now look like they have gone backwards a good bit. The fundings still the same so results aren't directly related to funding. The dubs simply have a superb group of players and a great manager, let's just enjoy them and give them credit. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me at all if kerry, mayo or tyrone beat them this year, they are nowhere near unbeatable.

nobody was getting the funding in the 70s that they are now
Kerry were just better footballers than everyone

[Hound]

nobody was getting the funding in the 70s that they are now
Kerry were just better footballers than everyone

Exactly as Dublin are now. But we all know there is very little between Dublin, Kerry and Mayo (assuming the latter get their house back in order) - and Tyrone would have no fear of Dublin either.

Dublin's senior footballers get looked after no better than the other top counties.

Absolutely true that only the Leinster final should be in Croke Park - but Dublin only have a 1/12th vote in that. The other Leinster counties could implement keeping Dubs out of Croker for Leinster semis very easily and choose not to.

Population of course plays a part, especially the last 20 years where there has been an ever increasing drive of culchies into the Pale. Young Con's father and grandfather both great Westmeath GAA men apparently.

[Taylor]

nobody was getting the funding in the 70s that they are now
Kerry were just better footballers than everyone

Exactly as Dublin are now. But we all know there is very little between Dublin, Kerry and Mayo (assuming the latter get their house back in order) - and Tyrone would have no fear of Dublin either.

Dublin's senior footballers get looked after no better than the other top counties.

Absolutely true that only the Leinster final should be in Croke Park - but Dublin only have a 1/12th vote in that. The other Leinster counties could implement keeping Dubs out of Croker for Leinster semis very easily and choose not to.

Population of course plays a part, especially the last 20 years where there has been an ever increasing drive of culchies into the Pale. Young Con's father and grandfather both great Westmeath GAA men apparently.

How many county players get to take a week off work before a big game?
How many county players get a free car to drive around in?

All Dublin players got/get the above two points......other top counties dont. They are well looked after but to say they are treated the same as the Dubs is untrue

[AZOffaly]

The senior team is just the tip of the iceberg. I know full well that other counties are spending massive amounts of money to even stay in the arms race that is Senior IC team preparations.

But it's the 1m+ euro every year for nigh on 20 years that is the real game changer. This money is being pumped into coaching and development and is being pumped in BY the GAA, not raised and spent by Dublin. When you have 20 years of investment into coaching like that, it's a bit rich to blame other counties for not being able to keep pace.

As I've said before, if the coaching money makes very little difference, then give it back and distribute it to the other counties. The next highest allocation is about 5% of that figure annually.

I've said this a million times, Dublin cannot be blamed for taking advantage of this funding. They have done a great job. But when the GAA hands a competitive advantage to a county which already has a lot of inherent advantages (which I don't mind and is part of the magic of playing Dublin) then it is an unsustainable situation.

Take Dublin's level of funding down to that of all the other teams, and then let the crops bloom in 5-10 years time and see where we are. Or alternatively increase all other teams to the same Per player funding, but I don't think the GAA has that sort of money.

Kerry are raising money like demons just to have a semblance of what Dublin has, and they are hoping that their own inherent advantages (no distractions, complete focus on Kerry football) take them past the Dubs. Mayo similarly.

Doing what Donegal did with their fundraising allows you to have a short burst of competitiveness at the top table because they invest in preparation of that senior team, but the next generation are not being coached like they are in Dublin, so you're back to square one again.

Again, it's not Dublins fault. They have used it brilliantly. Other counties might squander it. But they have cultivated a process to produce excellently coached players, on the back of GAA funding denied to other counties, and that is in my view very wrong.

[heffo]

The senior team is just the tip of the iceberg. I know full well that other counties are spending massive amounts of money to even stay in the arms race that is Senior IC team preparations.

But it's the 1m+ euro every year for nigh on 20 years that is the real game changer. This money is being pumped into coaching and development and is being pumped in BY the GAA, not raised and spent by Dublin. When you have 20 years of investment into coaching like that, it's a bit rich to blame other counties for not being able to keep pace.

As I've said before, if the coaching money makes very little difference, then give it back and distribute it to the other counties. The next highest allocation is about 5% of that figure annually.

I've said this a million times, Dublin cannot be blamed for taking advantage of this funding. They have done a great job. But when the GAA hands a competitive advantage to a county which already has a lot of inherent advantages (which I don't mind and is part of the magic of playing Dublin) then it is an unsustainable situation.

Take Dublin's level of funding down to that of all the other teams, and then let the crops bloom in 5-10 years time and see where we are. Or alternatively increase all other teams to the same Per player funding, but I don't think the GAA has that sort of money.

Kerry are raising money like demons just to have a semblance of what Dublin has, and they are hoping that their own inherent advantages (no distractions, complete focus on Kerry football) take them past the Dubs. Mayo similarly.

Doing what Donegal did with their fundraising allows you to have a short burst of competitiveness at the top table because they invest in preparation of that senior team, but the next generation are not being coached like they are in Dublin, so you're back to square one again.

Again, it's not Dublins fault. They have used it brilliantly. Other counties might squander it. But they have cultivated a process to produce excellently coached players, on the back of GAA funding denied to other counties, and that is in my view very wrong.

Do you just make this stuff up off the top of your head?

[lenny]

The senior team is just the tip of the iceberg. I know full well that other counties are spending massive amounts of money to even stay in the arms race that is Senior IC team preparations.

But it's the 1m+ euro every year for nigh on 20 years that is the real game changer. This money is being pumped into coaching and development and is being pumped in BY the GAA, not raised and spent by Dublin. When you have 20 years of investment into coaching like that, it's a bit rich to blame other counties for not being able to keep pace.

As I've said before, if the coaching money makes very little difference, then give it back and distribute it to the other counties. The next highest allocation is about 5% of that figure annually.

I've said this a million times, Dublin cannot be blamed for taking advantage of this funding. They have done a great job. But when the GAA hands a competitive advantage to a county which already has a lot of inherent advantages (which I don't mind and is part of the magic of playing Dublin) then it is an unsustainable situation.

Take Dublin's level of funding down to that of all the other teams, and then let the crops bloom in 5-10 years time and see where we are. Or alternatively increase all other teams to the same Per player funding, but I don't think the GAA has that sort of money.

Kerry are raising money like demons just to have a semblance of what Dublin has, and they are hoping that their own inherent advantages (no distractions, complete focus on Kerry football) take them past the Dubs. Mayo similarly.

Doing what Donegal did with their fundraising allows you to have a short burst of competitiveness at the top table because they invest in preparation of that senior team, but the next generation are not being coached like they are in Dublin, so you're back to square one again.

Again, it's not Dublins fault. They have used it brilliantly. Other counties might squander it. But they have cultivated a process to produce excellently coached players, on the back of GAA funding denied to other counties, and that is in my view very wrong.

Is this 20 years of funding not going towards hurling also? Why have they not taken over in hurling then? They made some progress in hurling but have slipped backwards again. If it's all down to funding you would expect them to be dominating in hurling after 20 years of funding.

[AZOffaly]

The senior team is just the tip of the iceberg. I know full well that other counties are spending massive amounts of money to even stay in the arms race that is Senior IC team preparations.

But it's the 1m+ euro every year for nigh on 20 years that is the real game changer. This money is being pumped into coaching and development and is being pumped in BY the GAA, not raised and spent by Dublin. When you have 20 years of investment into coaching like that, it's a bit rich to blame other counties for not being able to keep pace.

As I've said before, if the coaching money makes very little difference, then give it back and distribute it to the other counties. The next highest allocation is about 5% of that figure annually.

I've said this a million times, Dublin cannot be blamed for taking advantage of this funding. They have done a great job. But when the GAA hands a competitive advantage to a county which already has a lot of inherent advantages (which I don't mind and is part of the magic of playing Dublin) then it is an unsustainable situation.

Take Dublin's level of funding down to that of all the other teams, and then let the crops bloom in 5-10 years time and see where we are. Or alternatively increase all other teams to the same Per player funding, but I don't think the GAA has that sort of money.

Kerry are raising money like demons just to have a semblance of what Dublin has, and they are hoping that their own inherent advantages (no distractions, complete focus on Kerry football) take them past the Dubs. Mayo similarly.

Doing what Donegal did with their fundraising allows you to have a short burst of competitiveness at the top table because they invest in preparation of that senior team, but the next generation are not being coached like they are in Dublin, so you're back to square one again.

Again, it's not Dublins fault. They have used it brilliantly. Other counties might squander it. But they have cultivated a process to produce excellently coached players, on the back of GAA funding denied to other counties, and that is in my view very wrong.

Do you just make this stuff up off the top of your head?

when was the development 'plan' launched? Apologies If it's only 10 years or so. The annual figure in the reports I saw was 1.4 million so I did underestimate that. Apologies.

[AZOffaly]

Apologies, I fact checked. It appears it is 'only' since 2005. So 12 years, not 20. but when you factor in an average of 1.4 million say, then it's approx 16.8 million they've received. I've seen the range from 1.35 mill to 1.69 mill. I mistakenly thought it was Peter Quinn who decided Dublin needed competitive advantages to fight off Rugby and Soccer. Apparently it was later than that.

[Farrandeelin]

nobody was getting the funding in the 70s that they are now
Kerry were just better footballers than everyone

Exactly as Dublin are now. But we all know there is very little between Dublin, Kerry and Mayo (assuming the latter get their house back in order) - and Tyrone would have no fear of Dublin either.

Dublin's senior footballers get looked after no better than the other top counties.

Absolutely true that only the Leinster final should be in Croke Park - but Dublin only have a 1/12th vote in that. The other Leinster counties could implement keeping Dubs out of Croker for Leinster semis very easily and choose not to.

Population of course plays a part, especially the last 20 years where there has been an ever increasing drive of culchies into the Pale. Young Con's father and grandfather both great Westmeath GAA men apparently.

You're bang on about population anyway Hound. While that is a political factor, there's no point discussing that here.

So even if Dublin's funding was cut/spread evenly or whatever would it make a difference? Dublin fans might argue that they are the reason the GAA get so much money because so many follow them. But the population will always be there so they will always get bumper crowds, even if Kilkenny entered a team next year and were drawn to play them.

So what to do? I'm against splitting or amalgamating counties  anyway. Should funding be capped, absolutely, yet the population will ensure they will get more money anyway. Should the funds be spread evenly? I would argue that they should but surely to God the likes of Westmeath who got such a hiding yesterday should be shouting from the heavens to get that. I mean it's all right discussing it on gaaboard, but why don't the other counties highlight it at congress, Central council or somewhere their voices can actually be heard?

PS, did anyone look for their money back yesterday? Total mismatch from the word go it seems. I thought Kildare might run Dublin close. Unfortunately for Dinny and co I can't see that happening at all.

[Shamrock Shore]

Would pumping the entire GNP of a small African country into the likes of us, Leitrim etc make any difference.

Nope.

I blame the Brits........if you want to balance things off forget the county boundaries for the summer competition and create 16 'counties' or, God forbid 'franchises' and run a Super competition of 4*4 groups. Balance the number of senior clubs as close as possible withing each 'county'.

Go back to the 32 counties for the winter leagues and scrap the now almost meaningless provincials (bar Ulster and they can run this as they see fit).

*runs out of room*

[AZOffaly]

Would pumping the entire GNP of a small African country into the likes of us, Leitrim etc make any difference.

Nope.

I blame the Brits........if you want to balance things off forget the county boundaries for the summer competition and create 16 'counties' or, God forbid 'franchises' and run a Super competition of 4*4 groups. Balance the number of senior clubs as close as possible withing each 'county'.

Go back to the 32 counties for the winter leagues and scrap the now almost meaningless provincials (bar Ulster and they can run this as they see fit).

*runs out of room*

Of course it would SS. It wouldn't turn ye into Dublin because of the other factors around population, but I guarantee you it would make ye more competitive if you had a scatter of full time coaches roaming the county, maximising the talent and resources ye do have. That's the issue, there's only one county getting the most out of it's resources, and it's the county that has most resources in the first place

Again, I'm conscious that this is seen as some sort of Dublin bashing. It's genuinely not. They are a model in how to spend big money when you have it. But it's hard to spend it when you don't have it. And in counties that have a certain amount, they are spending it on the senior set ups to try hang onto the coattails of the the Dubs.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Is it safe to come out yet?

[Dinny Breen]

Is it safe to come out yet?

Just quickly head over the qualifier thread, no one will pass comment there and we will see you there in 3 weeks.