Is Leinster in Crisis?

[kevmy]

What are your views on the current state of Leinster football?

It hit me today that it is now 5 years since a Leinster side last won a AI at any grade.

In 2003 Laois won the minor and Dublin won the U21.
Since then Connacht have won 2 minors and 2 U21's and appeared in in 2 other minor finals and one other U21 final.
Ulster have won 3 minors and an U21 as well as in another minor and U21 final apiece.
Munster have won 2 U21's and appeared in 2 minor finals and another U21 final.

In contrast Leinster have only appeared in 2 U21 finals.

In senior since the turn of the millennium only one Leinster side has appeared in an AI final (Meath in 2001 - 7 years ago).
In this time Ulster have won 4 and been in another final
Munster have won 4 and been in another 4 finals
Connacht have won 1 and been in 2 more finals.

If we accept that football is a results based enterprise then surely this is a shocking indictment especially when you consider that Leinster has a lot of counties and is almost entirely football counties.   

[Maguire01]

I wouldn't worry - sure aren't the Dubs third favourites for next year's Sam?! 

[Zapatista]

I don't think it is at crisis level yet. The club scene is quite strong. It might just be a matter of getting it right at County level. No need for any drastic action yet.

[kevmy]

I don't know apart from Vincent's win last year (which had a fair few non-Dubs playing) they haven't won a club since the mid 90's (94??).

It just grates with me that Connacht and to a lesser extent Ulster are continually talked down to when as a matter of fact results prove they are more successful nationally and with a smaller population pick.

Add to this the fact that apart from the Dubs (and Wexford this year) they haven't even challenged at the national level in recent years. Yet every year we hear that Connacht is poor and Ulster is just negative but we never hear of the obvious (to me anyway) downturn in Leinster footballing fortunes. Strong footballing counties like Meath, Offaly and Kildare either get nowhere or fall apart on the big days they do get to.

[haze]

It just grates with me that Connacht and to a lesser extent Ulster are continually talked down to when as a matter of fact results prove they are more successful nationally and with a smaller population pick.

Add to this the fact that apart from the Dubs (and Wexford this year) they haven't even challenged at the national level in recent years. Yet every year we hear that Connacht is poor and Ulster is just negative but we never hear of the obvious (to me anyway) downturn in Leinster footballing fortunes. Strong footballing counties like Meath, Offaly and Kildare either get nowhere or fall apart on the big days they do get to.

I have to disagree with the above. For the past few years i have read any number of articles on the current poor state of Leinster football and its inability to produce a team capable of reaching the All Ireland final. I also believe (maybe naively) that there is a general consensus in the media that the strongest province at the moment is Ulster.

The fact is Leinster is the weakest province and it would be interesting to read posts on why people believe this to be the case.

I personally believe it is primarily cyclical... simply at the moment the majority of the best players in the country reside outside of Leinster. I would be more worried about the lack of all ireland titles at underage level which suggests that perhaps apart from the prospect of a Dublin all ireland win, no county has immediate prospects of stepping up to the top table and continually challenge for all ireland honours.

[The Boy Wonder]

Last 5 years (2004-2008): Kerry 3, Tyrone 2
Prev 5 years (1999-2003): Meath,Kerry,Galway,Amagh,Tyrone

Apart from the excellence of Kerry & Tyrone in recent years there is no rationale to say Leinster is better or worse than the other provinces at the moment.

[nrico2006]

I would say Munster is in crisis moreso than Leinster.

[Maguire01]

I would say Munster is in crisis moreso than Leinster.

Munster is as it has been for as long as most can remember. It's not crisis, it's just the way it is. Leinster on the other hand have had traditionally strong representation, but haven't delivered in recent years. That's the difference as i see it.

[his holiness nb]

Kevmy, to many many people, the GAA is about a lot more than all ireland winners medals ( no smart comments about the dubs ).

Go down to your local club to see how many people turn up at the nursery, then decide if theres a crisis.

[kevmy]

Kevmy, to many many people, the GAA is about a lot more than all ireland winners medals ( no smart comments about the dubs ).

Go down to your local club to see how many people turn up at the nursery, then decide if theres a crisis.

I totally agree. I'm not saying that football is dying in Leinster or anything. But surely something is wrong at intercounty level in the province. Not only do we have no representation on AI final day but the Dubs are walking Leinster every year as well which shows that the rest of the province is well behind.

Boy Wonder fair enough Kerry + Tyrone are carving up the victories recently but Mayo (twice), Galway, Armagh and Cork have also contested in finals this decade. Apart from Meath in 01, the Dubs got to semi finals no further (and Wexford done well this year but in fairness got a fairly handy run). On top of this Ulster teams are consistently packing out quarter finals.

[Maguire01]

Kevmy, to many many people, the GAA is about a lot more than all ireland winners medals ( no smart comments about the dubs ).

Go down to your local club to see how many people turn up at the nursery, then decide if theres a crisis.

I totally agree. I'm not saying that football is dying in Leinster or anything. But surely something is wrong at intercounty level in the province. Not only do we have no representation on AI final day but the Dubs are walking Leinster every year as well which shows that the rest of the province is well behind.

Boy Wonder fair enough Kerry + Tyrone are carving up the victories recently but Mayo (twice), Galway, Armagh and Cork have also contested in finals this decade. Apart from Meath in 01, the Dubs got to semi finals no further (and Wexford done well this year but in fairness got a fairly handy run). On top of this Ulster teams are consistently packing out quarter finals.

Didn't Meath make last year's semi?

[Jinxy]

Yes. Yes we did.

[OirthearMhaigheo]

Kevmy, to many many people, the GAA is about a lot more than all ireland winners medals ( no smart comments about the dubs ).

Go down to your local club to see how many people turn up at the nursery, then decide if theres a crisis.

I totally agree. I'm not saying that football is dying in Leinster or anything. But surely something is wrong at intercounty level in the province. Not only do we have no representation on AI final day but the Dubs are walking Leinster every year as well which shows that the rest of the province is well behind.

Boy Wonder fair enough Kerry + Tyrone are carving up the victories recently but Mayo (twice), Galway, Armagh and Cork have also contested in finals this decade. Apart from Meath in 01, the Dubs got to semi finals no further (and Wexford done well this year but in fairness got a fairly handy run). On top of this Ulster teams are consistently packing out quarter finals.

Didn't Meath make last year's semi?

Ah well Kevmy's argument is screwed so!
I think he has a point, crisis may be too strong a word but lagging behind would be very fair to say. Considering the number of counties compared to both Connacht and Munster and the provinces traditional strength you would expect more winners this decade (zero) and more final representatives (one).