Dublin Hurling Turnaround - Could it happen in football?

[Orangemac]

The Gaa have put a lot of resources into developing hurling in Dublin and it has bore fruit with Dublin now probably the 3rd best team in the country having won the league and gave Tipp their hardest game of the year.

A few years ago they were barely in the top 10 in the country and the underage coaching and development work over the years has paid off.

If the same resources/effort was put into a county in football with a large population base which had won nothing in a long time such as Antrim or Down could a similiar turnaround occur?

[Zulu]

Yes and it's a disgrace that it hasn't happened already. Why are Louth and Wicklow, for example, allowed languish when they are, and always will be, highly populated counties with massive potential

[screenexile]

The Gaa have put a lot of resources into developing hurling in Dublin and it has bore fruit with Dublin now probably the 3rd best team in the country having won the league and gave Tipp their hardest game of the year.

A few years ago they were barely in the top 10 in the country and the underage coaching and development work over the years has paid off.

If the same resources/effort was put into a county in football with a large population base which had won nothing in a long time such as Antrim or Down could a similiar turnaround occur?

That's a bit cheeky isn't it? Down are hardly struggling that badly and they have plenty of resources!

[magpie seanie]

Yes and it's a disgrace that it hasn't happened already. Why are Louth and Wicklow, for example, allowed languish when they are, and always will be, highly populated counties with massive potential

To be fair you need a credible plan and crucially - buy in by all concerned which means there is a probablity of actually implementing the plan. I've seen loads of lovely glossy plans that only gather dust. The Dublin hurling one shows what can be done and its to their immense credit that they made it work. No amount of money will paper over the cracks if people are not committed to putting their petty differences behind them and moving forward.

[heffo]

Yes and it's a disgrace that it hasn't happened already. Why are Louth and Wicklow, for example, allowed languish when they are, and always will be, highly populated counties with massive potential

To be fair you need a credible plan and crucially - buy in by all concerned which means there is a probablity of actually implementing the plan. I've seen loads of lovely glossy plans that only gather dust. The Dublin hurling one shows what can be done and its to their immense credit that they made it work. No amount of money will paper over the cracks if people are not committed to putting their petty differences behind them and moving forward.

Exactly Seanie. It's not just a case of employ fifty coaches and let's come back in five years to start picking up the trophies.

You need highly developed Juvenile structures. Lots of volunteers. Everyone wanting the same thing.

[AZOffaly]

I see no reason why it couldn't happen in football, and throwing money at is is not the whole answer either. The money has to be used to support a sensible, sustainable strategic approach.

In theory football, being a harder game to score in, should actually be easier to become competitive in. Of course you need to develop skilled players to push you over the edge, but you should be able to become 'hard to beat' quite quickly as long as an awful lot of effort is put in.

[Banana Man]

The Gaa have put a lot of resources into developing hurling in Dublin and it has bore fruit with Dublin now probably the 3rd best team in the country having won the league and gave Tipp their hardest game of the year.

A few years ago they were barely in the top 10 in the country and the underage coaching and development work over the years has paid off.

If the same resources/effort was put into a county in football with a large population base which had won nothing in a long time such as Antrim or Down could a similiar turnaround occur?

That's a bit cheeky isn't it? Down are hardly struggling that badly and they have plenty of resources!

+1 Wind your neck in ya jaffa