Messages

[You can't talk about the match without talking about why those 2 probably won't make the 26]

Dara O Se

"Dublin's bench is so strong, Bernard Brogan and Eoghan O'Gara probably won't make the 26."

You can't talk about the match without talking about why those 2 probably won't make the 26

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0622/1056894-gaa-see-dublin-as-blueprint-for-future-not-the-problem/
"Costello rejects the suggestion Dublin no longer need financial support from Croke Park.
"We have huge challenges in Dublin. We have developing areas that we have no presence in: there are areas like Cherrywood, Hollystown and Adamstown."
"Dublin's dominance within Leinster has seen winning margins skyrocket as final attendances have halved in a decade, but Leinster Council CEO Michael Reynolds does not entertain the idea that the provincial championships are a lost cause.
"The Leinster Championship is quite vibrant outside the Dublin scenario. During the summer, you have some very good matches - the same in the other provinces," said Reynolds."


If it is a hammering and they do the ritual humiliation handpass routine to Kerry in Croke Park maybe the debate will open up.

Because Berno is 35 and because Eoghan is 33 and has never nailed down a starting place and is inconsistent at the best of times - a great servant but he can shoot the lights out one day and the next have a nightmare. Con O'Callaghan has developed this year as a really physical full forward option and he has a lot more football in him then Eoghan (all due respect to him and the vital contributions he made over the years).

Wasn't Andy Moran 35 in the semifinal?
How come there are so many young nippers available to Dublin ?

Seafoid, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Andy Moran was a sub in the semi final, my info was that Berno was going to be a sub, but was injured at the end of the Tyrone game (mentioned by others on the board as well). O'Gara has been on and off match day panels throughput  his (long) career. Berno has been rehabbing a really bad injury, which is difficult to do at his age. For him to be in contention even is a tribute to his determination. But don't mention that, it doesn't conform to your narrative.

As I said before, there are plenty of threads for you to expound your views, and plenty of people who disagree with your analysis (which is allowed). Go have the argument there.

[You can't talk about the match without talking about why those 2 probably won't make the 26]

Dara O Se

"Dublin's bench is so strong, Bernard Brogan and Eoghan O'Gara probably won't make the 26."

You can't talk about the match without talking about why those 2 probably won't make the 26

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0622/1056894-gaa-see-dublin-as-blueprint-for-future-not-the-problem/
"Costello rejects the suggestion Dublin no longer need financial support from Croke Park.
"We have huge challenges in Dublin. We have developing areas that we have no presence in: there are areas like Cherrywood, Hollystown and Adamstown."
"Dublin's dominance within Leinster has seen winning margins skyrocket as final attendances have halved in a decade, but Leinster Council CEO Michael Reynolds does not entertain the idea that the provincial championships are a lost cause.
"The Leinster Championship is quite vibrant outside the Dublin scenario. During the summer, you have some very good matches - the same in the other provinces," said Reynolds."


If it is a hammering and they do the ritual humiliation handpass routine to Kerry in Croke Park maybe the debate will open up.

Because Berno is 35 and because Eoghan is 33 and has never nailed down a starting place and is inconsistent at the best of times - a great servant but he can shoot the lights out one day and the next have a nightmare. Con O'Callaghan has developed this year as a really physical full forward option and he has a lot more football in him then Eoghan (all due respect to him and the vital contributions he made over the years).

[either.]

The system is broken, EasyTiger. Marie Antoinette didn't understand that either.


That clearly does equate me to her.

If you want to make a point about the broken state of the football championship there are plenty of threads you can use or you can start one yourself.

There are plenty of people who don't agree with your analysis. It doesn't make them blind/fools/elitists.

I never said anyone was an elitist or a fool.
I do think a lot of things are going to change in the coming years.
The French Revolution was similar. 

There are enough fans who have given up going to matches to fit the thesis.
Let's see how the attendances look for this year

No, you just compared me to an elitist and a fool. As did FTB. For a man who lives and dies by links and written evidence on this board, you're great for avoiding the implications of your own words.

As for the rest, the point remains the same. There are numerous different threads to expound your views on these matters. Is it too much to ask you discuss it on those and let the match be discussed here?

Using a quote by someone or comparing a situation to now does not imply anything about you. Sorry
I don't know anything about you.

The match will be over when the Dubs start the ritual handpassing

No you don't know anything about me, otherwise you wouldn't have have compared my lack of knowledge of the broken state of football, to Marie Antoinette's wilful ignorance of the state of the French citizenry prior to the revolution. There is a fairly big implication there. Sorry.

There is a link between the state of play before the French Revolution and GF now. It has nothing to do with you .
Get a grip

Perhaps you should read back how you expressed your thoughts and realise how I would think that. It's all in black and white. I even highlighted it for you. Happy for you to apologise/amend at any stage.

By the way, the French revolution was a rebellion on behalf of millions of beaten down oppressed people, faced with a homicidal regime, appalling living standards, curtailed life spans and the brutalisation of the human spirit. So your point is it was almost as bad as the perceived lack of fairness in funding to Dublin GAA???

Get a grip, cop on etc etc

I would say Dublin fans are more nervous this year than last year. Tyrone don't offer any threat to Dublin and that game was over at half time. No one I know believed they had a chance

Kerry have a punchers chance with their forwards and their ability to get goal. That's what makes it nervous for me. Like I said earlier a good start for Kerry can really set up the game for them, especially if Dublin have to push on and chase the game at any stage.

I do wonder do the Dublin posters really believe what they are saying. Dublin should be 5 to 10 points better here. I'd love to see a tight game so hope I am wrong but can't see it. Yes Dublin a bit weaker in fb line than they have been but the Kerry defense is very poor and possibly the weakest in quite a few years in a final.

Absolutely I mean what I say. For all our recent successes against them, the "rivalry" from the 70s was completely one-sided once the final whistle blew in 77, and had been before Heffo's arrival. Kerry do not fear Dublin, in fact, I think their attitude towards us now is one of bewilderment that we didn't crumble away rather than awe at our achievements.

This is going to mean something very big in the Kingdom - derail the machine and you will have immortality a la 1955, 75 and 78. Fail and you will have infamy, always to be remembered as bit players as the greatest prize is won.

Undoubtedly Dublin are favourites, but I really don't think we are going to do this at a canter. Even if Kerry can't match us, Dublin will have their own stresses as posterity looms. They wouldn't be human if that didn't effect them a bit.

[either.]

The system is broken, EasyTiger. Marie Antoinette didn't understand that either.


That clearly does equate me to her.

If you want to make a point about the broken state of the football championship there are plenty of threads you can use or you can start one yourself.

There are plenty of people who don't agree with your analysis. It doesn't make them blind/fools/elitists.

I never said anyone was an elitist or a fool.
I do think a lot of things are going to change in the coming years.
The French Revolution was similar. 

There are enough fans who have given up going to matches to fit the thesis.
Let's see how the attendances look for this year

No, you just compared me to an elitist and a fool. As did FTB. For a man who lives and dies by links and written evidence on this board, you're great for avoiding the implications of your own words.

As for the rest, the point remains the same. There are numerous different threads to expound your views on these matters. Is it too much to ask you discuss it on those and let the match be discussed here?

Using a quote by someone or comparing a situation to now does not imply anything about you. Sorry
I don't know anything about you.

The match will be over when the Dubs start the ritual handpassing

No you don't know anything about me, otherwise you wouldn't have have compared my lack of knowledge of the broken state of football, to Marie Antoinette's wilful ignorance of the state of the French citizenry prior to the revolution. There is a fairly big implication there. Sorry.

In terms of the match, anyone who thinks Dublin are going to have it easy are discounting a few factors

1. Dublin always start slow in All Ireland finals this decade, even against Tyrone last year the first 20 minutes were a mare (and I think Tyrone didn't have the firepower that Kerry have this year)
2. Dublin's fullback gives up nearly as many chances as Kerry's - for the past five years it has been mentioned as a weakness but no one has been able to exploit it fully (not since Donegal 14 and Kerry 13). A forward unit containing Clifford, Shea, Geaney, O'Brien et al are as good as that line has faced in years - getting possession in to them will be vital.
3. Kerry's defeat of Mayo was as impressive, in its way, as ours. They put them to bed very early and were never out of control. Allowances can be made because it was not knock out, but the divergence in the formline is not as big as the bookies would suggest.
4. The return of Sean Walsh could be a real fly in the ointment for that Dublin full back line. Cooper, Mick Fitz and Davey Byrne would need to have two men on him to contest the ball and win the knockdown and none of them are as good aerially as prime time Rory O'Carroll (given his performance in Tyrone he is not going to be first sub in).

So, I think if there is any ritual handpassing to be done, it will only be in the dying seconds. This has the makings of a shootout and I'm drooling at the prospect.

[either.]

The system is broken, EasyTiger. Marie Antoinette didn't understand that either.


That clearly does equate me to her.

If you want to make a point about the broken state of the football championship there are plenty of threads you can use or you can start one yourself.

There are plenty of people who don't agree with your analysis. It doesn't make them blind/fools/elitists.

I never said anyone was an elitist or a fool.
I do think a lot of things are going to change in the coming years.
The French Revolution was similar. 

There are enough fans who have given up going to matches to fit the thesis.
Let's see how the attendances look for this year

No, you just compared me to an elitist and a fool. As did FTB. For a man who lives and dies by links and written evidence on this board, you're great for avoiding the implications of your own words.

As for the rest, the point remains the same. There are numerous different threads to expound your views on these matters. Is it too much to ask you discuss it on those and let the match be discussed here?

[either.]

The system is broken, EasyTiger. Marie Antoinette didn't understand that either.


That clearly does equate me to her.

If you want to make a point about the broken state of the football championship there are plenty of threads you can use or you can start one yourself.

There are plenty of people who don't agree with your analysis. It doesn't make them blind/fools/elitists.

[It didn't cost them in other campaigns.]

Loads to talk about and no Dublin fan I know is taking this lightly - this is a serious Kerry team, who beat Mayo by the same score as us, and didn't have to struggle in the first half to do so.

Unfortunately, any discussion of the game gets sidetracked here always. Prefer now to do the chatting IRL because online is just a snake eating itself.

Mayo were flogged twice this year! First they had to play 3 weeks in a row to Down (away), Armagh (home) and Galway (Limerick) while Kerry rested, waited and planed for a home tie against them in week 4.

Same for the game v Dublin Mayo played tough games against Kerry (away), Meath (Croker) and Donegal (home) while a rested Dublin played Cork (Home), Roscommon (home) and played their 'B' team to Tyrone (away).

The lead up to both games left Mayo shagged! Don't get me wrong they would have lost both! But to read anything into either results means nothing as the leads up was not on a level playing field. But hey, the GAA is full of non level playing fields.

Anyway, Up the Dubs! Really hope ye do it!

Mayo had that route because they lost to Roscommon. That has nothing to do with non-level playing fields - every county risks a long trip through the qualifiers if they lose early. It didn't cost them in other campaigns.

Look at the rest time in other campaigns! No excuses for the defeats, just they went into both those games shagged! And the lead up games had an effect on the manner of their defeats. If you think otherwise you clearly do not have any idea of recovery time from bruising intercounty games.

Sure they lost to Roscommon! But does this mean that you have to treat amateur players like dogs for this?

If you are not happy with losers going back into the AI competition. Then feck them out when they lose, don't be putting them in unrealistic situations.

Best of Luck in the final! I'll be cheering for you! (I'll be cheering for you in next years final as well!)

Amazingly the system is set up to treat any players on any team "like dogs" when you lose your first game. You're coming across like a real child here.

"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche".

Apparently you think its alright to equate my opinions on the GAA with the homicidal indifference of the wife of a historical tyrant.

You think that is ok because

1. You don't know me
2. Hey its the internet and
3. My own hurt as a Mayo fan crushed by an unfair system cannot be in any way equated with the experience of, or understood by, a Dublin fan, who is part of this elite.

Those rationalisations are fundamentally immature, hence my comment about you acting like a child.

Like you (I assume) I get up and work hard every day. Like you (I assume) I take my son to the local GAA club and help out with training and matches (when I can, I'm not a martyr to it). Like you (I assume) I've played both club and schools GAA, though I never played senior for my club, and my modest achievements were all at colleges level. Like you (I know) I follow my county passionately.

Unlike you, I can ascribe all those values and characteristics to you without having met you.

I've spent a large part of my professional life producing and directing television coverage of GAA sports - I've been to most of the county grounds in the country and met volunteers for clubs and counties at every ground we've pitched up at. I've always treated those people with the same respect I would expect if they were pitching up at my club. And that fundamental extension of respect seems to be beyond you.

There are numerous threads for Dublin funding issues. I (and probably a lot of others) would like to discuss the game on Sunday on this thread. Perhaps you could extend us that respect?

A bit of cop on would not go amiss.

The system is broken, EasyTiger. Marie Antoinette didn't understand that either.
You can't run a sports competition when one team wins way in advance and the administrators don't care.

"The sight of a once vicious rivalry surviving on life support is the GAA's primetime product on the third weekend of June in 2019.
So finishes the decade with the Leinster football championship in ruin as any sense of competitiveness is lost. An era that begun with Meath thumping Dublin to the tune of 5-9 to 0-13 in this very fixture concludes with no provincial rivalry to speak about."

"Dublin are a long, long way in front of anyone else," said Colm O'Rourke.
"And maybe the gap is getting bigger all the time. There's no semblance of Dublin being sated by their success so far. It looks as if they want to win, win, win.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/dublin-already-odds-six-row-18920594

I don't think Dublin all Ireland wins are valid any more, in fact. Because they get advantages nobody else does.
Why not take the tournament out of the hands of the GAA and put some decent sports administrators in control ?

And once again I am being equated with Marie Antionette. With the greatest of respect Seafoid, you are missing my point completely.

[It didn't cost them in other campaigns.]

Loads to talk about and no Dublin fan I know is taking this lightly - this is a serious Kerry team, who beat Mayo by the same score as us, and didn't have to struggle in the first half to do so.

Unfortunately, any discussion of the game gets sidetracked here always. Prefer now to do the chatting IRL because online is just a snake eating itself.

Mayo were flogged twice this year! First they had to play 3 weeks in a row to Down (away), Armagh (home) and Galway (Limerick) while Kerry rested, waited and planed for a home tie against them in week 4.

Same for the game v Dublin Mayo played tough games against Kerry (away), Meath (Croker) and Donegal (home) while a rested Dublin played Cork (Home), Roscommon (home) and played their 'B' team to Tyrone (away).

The lead up to both games left Mayo shagged! Don't get me wrong they would have lost both! But to read anything into either results means nothing as the leads up was not on a level playing field. But hey, the GAA is full of non level playing fields.

Anyway, Up the Dubs! Really hope ye do it!

Mayo had that route because they lost to Roscommon. That has nothing to do with non-level playing fields - every county risks a long trip through the qualifiers if they lose early. It didn't cost them in other campaigns.

Look at the rest time in other campaigns! No excuses for the defeats, just they went into both those games shagged! And the lead up games had an effect on the manner of their defeats. If you think otherwise you clearly do not have any idea of recovery time from bruising intercounty games.

Sure they lost to Roscommon! But does this mean that you have to treat amateur players like dogs for this?

If you are not happy with losers going back into the AI competition. Then feck them out when they lose, don't be putting them in unrealistic situations.

Best of Luck in the final! I'll be cheering for you! (I'll be cheering for you in next years final as well!)

Amazingly the system is set up to treat any players on any team "like dogs" when you lose your first game. You're coming across like a real child here.

"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche".

Apparently you think its alright to equate my opinions on the GAA with the homicidal indifference of the wife of a historical tyrant.

You think that is ok because

1. You don't know me
2. Hey its the internet and
3. My own hurt as a Mayo fan crushed by an unfair system cannot be in any way equated with the experience of, or understood by, a Dublin fan, who is part of this elite.

Those rationalisations are fundamentally immature, hence my comment about you acting like a child.

Like you (I assume) I get up and work hard every day. Like you (I assume) I take my son to the local GAA club and help out with training and matches (when I can, I'm not a martyr to it). Like you (I assume) I've played both club and schools GAA, though I never played senior for my club, and my modest achievements were all at colleges level. Like you (I know) I follow my county passionately.

Unlike you, I can ascribe all those values and characteristics to you without having met you.

I've spent a large part of my professional life producing and directing television coverage of GAA sports - I've been to most of the county grounds in the country and met volunteers for clubs and counties at every ground we've pitched up at. I've always treated those people with the same respect I would expect if they were pitching up at my club. And that fundamental extension of respect seems to be beyond you.

There are numerous threads for Dublin funding issues. I (and probably a lot of others) would like to discuss the game on Sunday on this thread. Perhaps you could extend us that respect?

A bit of cop on would not go amiss.

Great interview with Andy Moran on the Second Captains this morning. Very sad he never got an All Ireland, you could never begrudge a gentleman like him.

[It didn't cost them in other campaigns.]

Loads to talk about and no Dublin fan I know is taking this lightly - this is a serious Kerry team, who beat Mayo by the same score as us, and didn't have to struggle in the first half to do so.

Unfortunately, any discussion of the game gets sidetracked here always. Prefer now to do the chatting IRL because online is just a snake eating itself.

Mayo were flogged twice this year! First they had to play 3 weeks in a row to Down (away), Armagh (home) and Galway (Limerick) while Kerry rested, waited and planed for a home tie against them in week 4.

Same for the game v Dublin Mayo played tough games against Kerry (away), Meath (Croker) and Donegal (home) while a rested Dublin played Cork (Home), Roscommon (home) and played their 'B' team to Tyrone (away).

The lead up to both games left Mayo shagged! Don't get me wrong they would have lost both! But to read anything into either results means nothing as the leads up was not on a level playing field. But hey, the GAA is full of non level playing fields.

Anyway, Up the Dubs! Really hope ye do it!

Mayo had that route because they lost to Roscommon. That has nothing to do with non-level playing fields - every county risks a long trip through the qualifiers if they lose early. It didn't cost them in other campaigns.

Look at the rest time in other campaigns! No excuses for the defeats, just they went into both those games shagged! And the lead up games had an effect on the manner of their defeats. If you think otherwise you clearly do not have any idea of recovery time from bruising intercounty games.

Sure they lost to Roscommon! But does this mean that you have to treat amateur players like dogs for this?

If you are not happy with losers going back into the AI competition. Then feck them out when they lose, don't be putting them in unrealistic situations.

Best of Luck in the final! I'll be cheering for you! (I'll be cheering for you in next years final as well!)

Amazingly the system is set up to treat any players on any team "like dogs" when you lose your first game. You're coming across like a real child here.

Loads to talk about and no Dublin fan I know is taking this lightly - this is a serious Kerry team, who beat Mayo by the same score as us, and didn't have to struggle in the first half to do so.

Unfortunately, any discussion of the game gets sidetracked here always. Prefer now to do the chatting IRL because online is just a snake eating itself.

Mayo were flogged twice this year! First they had to play 3 weeks in a row to Down (away), Armagh (home) and Galway (Limerick) while Kerry rested, waited and planed for a home tie against them in week 4.

Same for the game v Dublin Mayo played tough games against Kerry (away), Meath (Croker) and Donegal (home) while a rested Dublin played Cork (Home), Roscommon (home) and played their 'B' team to Tyrone (away).

The lead up to both games left Mayo shagged! Don't get me wrong they would have lost both! But to read anything into either results means nothing as the leads up was not on a level playing field. But hey, the GAA is full of non level playing fields.

Anyway, Up the Dubs! Really hope ye do it!

Mayo had that route because they lost to Roscommon. That has nothing to do with non-level playing fields - every county risks a long trip through the qualifiers if they lose early. It didn't cost them in other campaigns.

Loads to talk about and no Dublin fan I know is taking this lightly - this is a serious Kerry team, who beat Mayo by the same score as us, and didn't have to struggle in the first half to do so.

Unfortunately, any discussion of the game gets sidetracked here always. Prefer now to do the chatting IRL because online is just a snake eating itself.

[I've been on the board since 2002]

Funny how Dublin fans don't complain about the ref, as they know they're likely to win the game anyway. Had it been 15 years ago, you'd have heard their whinging. Funny what success does.

I've been on the board since 2002 - never once complained about a ref. Can't really remember any Dub contributor in those dark times (and they were plenty dark) complaining about refs, either their performance or their appointment. Always too disappointed in our own lack of performance in key games.

Crazy world now that us not complaining about a ref is taken as arrogance. Would you prefer if we did?

Is this comedy?

6 Senior Football All-Irelands
5 u21 All-Irelands
1 Minor All-Ireland
1 Junior All-Ireland
5 National Leagues
Just the 15 Leinster Senior Championships
11 u21 Leinster Titles
5 Minor Leinster Titles
1 National League Hurling
1 Senior Leinster Hurling
4 u21 Leinster Hurling
6 Minor Leinster Hurling Titles

Yea real f**king dark times.....just the 61 provincial and national titles.....

Dinny, how about you learn to read  - see above. Football didn't start in 2011.

I've been going to Croker since 1981 (for the Offaly hurlers) and to Dublin games since 1983, though I didn't get to the final for the 12 Apostles.
In that time, some of the games that I've been at that stand out are -

All 4 in 91 against Meath

Being beaten by Donegal in 92 AIF

Being beaten by Derry in 93 SF

Wasn't at the Down final in 94, watched it at home

Being beaten by Meath in 96 (Bealo's missed peno)

Again by Meath in 99 (Ollie Murphy went to town on us)

By Kildare in two games in 2000

By Meath in Leinster and Kerry after a replay in Thurles (Maurice Fitz)

By Armagh by a point in AISF in 02 (Cossie hit the post)

By Laois in 03, followed by Cluxton getting himself sent off against Armagh

By Westmeath in 04, followed by Kerry getting medieval on us in the AIQF

By Tyrone in AIQF 05 after a replay

By Mayo (Ciaran Mac) after leading by six with 20 to go in the AISF 06

By Kerry in AISF 07

By Tyrone in the pouring rain in AIQF 08

By Kerry (startled earwigs) in AIQF 09

I was at them all and more. So excuse me if my memories of supporting Dublin, in the main was of disappointment for the guts of 26 years (barring the wins in 83 and 95). Now you may say that you have had more disappointment than me, and I would say quantitatively that is correct.

But I would also point out that experience is subjective, and given that I was from a county where there was a huge amount of expectation on them to be All Ireland winners, both from within and outside the county, that the sense of failure and underachievement was especially keen and embarrassing. Anyone who was supporting Dublin during those years won't forget it soon anyway.

Or I could just concede defeat and acknowledge that I just can't do self pity like some of the contributors to this board, and I should just leave it to the experts...

Boo hoo, tiger. Are we meant to feel sorry for ye?

Not at all. Just stop feeling sorry for yourselves 😁

[I've been on the board since 2002]

Funny how Dublin fans don't complain about the ref, as they know they're likely to win the game anyway. Had it been 15 years ago, you'd have heard their whinging. Funny what success does.

I've been on the board since 2002 - never once complained about a ref. Can't really remember any Dub contributor in those dark times (and they were plenty dark) complaining about refs, either their performance or their appointment. Always too disappointed in our own lack of performance in key games.

Crazy world now that us not complaining about a ref is taken as arrogance. Would you prefer if we did?

Is this comedy?

6 Senior Football All-Irelands
5 u21 All-Irelands
1 Minor All-Ireland
1 Junior All-Ireland
5 National Leagues
Just the 15 Leinster Senior Championships
11 u21 Leinster Titles
5 Minor Leinster Titles
1 National League Hurling
1 Senior Leinster Hurling
4 u21 Leinster Hurling
6 Minor Leinster Hurling Titles

Yea real f**king dark times.....just the 61 provincial and national titles.....

Dinny, how about you learn to read  - see above. Football didn't start in 2011.

I've been going to Croker since 1981 (for the Offaly hurlers) and to Dublin games since 1983, though I didn't get to the final for the 12 Apostles.
In that time, some of the games that I've been at that stand out are -

All 4 in 91 against Meath

Being beaten by Donegal in 92 AIF

Being beaten by Derry in 93 SF

Wasn't at the Down final in 94, watched it at home

Being beaten by Meath in 96 (Bealo's missed peno)

Again by Meath in 99 (Ollie Murphy went to town on us)

By Kildare in two games in 2000

By Meath in Leinster and Kerry after a replay in Thurles (Maurice Fitz)

By Armagh by a point in AISF in 02 (Cossie hit the post)

By Laois in 03, followed by Cluxton getting himself sent off against Armagh

By Westmeath in 04, followed by Kerry getting medieval on us in the AIQF

By Tyrone in AIQF 05 after a replay

By Mayo (Ciaran Mac) after leading by six with 20 to go in the AISF 06

By Kerry in AISF 07

By Tyrone in the pouring rain in AIQF 08

By Kerry (startled earwigs) in AIQF 09

I was at them all and more. So excuse me if my memories of supporting Dublin, in the main was of disappointment for the guts of 26 years (barring the wins in 83 and 95). Now you may say that you have had more disappointment than me, and I would say quantitatively that is correct.

But I would also point out that experience is subjective, and given that I was from a county where there was a huge amount of expectation on them to be All Ireland winners, both from within and outside the county, that the sense of failure and underachievement was especially keen and embarrassing. Anyone who was supporting Dublin during those years won't forget it soon anyway.

Or I could just concede defeat and acknowledge that I just can't do self pity like some of the contributors to this board, and I should just leave it to the experts...