All this league positivity talk and yet no thread for the final

[Cunny Funt]

What's the point of playing the division 3,4 finals in a empty Croke park?. A double header in somewhere like Tullamore would make more sense.

[Zulu]

Division 3 final has picked up a bit and there are some great scores but it's still not a good game IMO. Conceding the kickout and carrying the ball the length of the field just isn't great to watch.

[Lar Naparka]

Lar, I don't disagree on the larger point regarding rural depopulation but the players you mentioned, like John Small and Dean Rock are good players rather than great players. Connolly, Cluxton, Flynn and Brogan will be in the conversation when they are picking the next centenary team. Dublin will be one of the top 3 or 4 teams for the foreseeable future but the idea that they'll be unbeatable is patently not true and Kerry are now dominating at nearly every level bar senior county so I see no reason why that won't transfer to senior in due course.

Kerry have embraced the challenge Dublin are posing, it's about time others did so too.

Yeah, I'd accept what you say about Rock and Small but Dublin are better placed to produce good young players than any other county because of the professional set up they have.
I don't and never did say that Dublin will always win everything in sight as I have said numerous times, on the field its 15 against 15 and other counties could well beat them on any given day. But over the course of, say, a decade, Dublin is odds on to win more than any other county.
Also, don't forget that most  of the team that were humiliated by Meath in 2010 went on to win the AI in the following year and several more since.
That defeat stung the Dublin county board into action and the result, as the fella said, is history.
THe problem for me is that we no longer have an amatuer ethos at least where the more high profile counties are concerned and Dublin leads the way here.
Now, as you say Kerry have taken up the Dublin challenge, or have they?
Why is the outcome of the league final attracting so little interest?
Kerry are doing very well at all grade below senior inter county and despite the disparity in resources, you'd still expect their seniors to lead the challenge to Dublin most years.
But there are a few significant differences between success at underage and success at senior level. First and foremost is the issue of money. To gain success at senior level costs millions with more psychos, physios, doctors, masseurs, specialist coaches, psychologists and I'd say in Dublin's case at least one psychiatrist, and God knows who else.
Spending on underage grades is a different matter entirely. A team can be well-prepared at that level without having to spend a fortune that most counties don't have.

[seafoid]

Lar, I don't disagree on the larger point regarding rural depopulation but the players you mentioned, like John Small and Dean Rock are good players rather than great players. Connolly, Cluxton, Flynn and Brogan will be in the conversation when they are picking the next centenary team. Dublin will be one of the top 3 or 4 teams for the foreseeable future but the idea that they'll be unbeatable is patently not true and Kerry are now dominating at nearly every level bar senior county so I see no reason why that won't transfer to senior in due course.

Kerry have embraced the challenge Dublin are posing, it's about time others did so too.

Yeah, I'd accept what you say about Rock and Small but Dublin are better placed to produce good young players than any other county because of the professional set up they have.
I don't and never did say that Dublin will always win everything in sight as I have said numerous times, on the field its 15 against 15 and other counties could well beat them on any given day. But over the course of, say, a decade, Dublin is odds on to win more than any other county.
Also, don't forget that most  of the team that were humiliated by Meath in 2010 went on to win the AI in the following year and several more since.
That defeat stung the Dublin county board into action and the result, as the fella said, is history.
THe problem for me is that we no longer have an amatuer ethos at least where the more high profile counties are concerned and Dublin leads the way here.
Now, as you say Kerry have taken up the Dublin challenge, or have they?
Why is the outcome of the league final attracting so little interest?
Kerry are doing very well at all grade below senior inter county and despite the disparity in resources, you'd still expect their seniors to lead the challenge to Dublin most years.
But there are a few significant differences between success at underage and success at senior level. First and foremost is the issue of money. To gain success at senior level costs millions with more psychos, physios, doctors, masseurs, specialist coaches, psychologists and I'd say in Dublin's case at least one psychiatrist, and God knows who else.
Spending on underage grades is a different matter entirely. A team can be well-prepared at that level without having to spend a fortune that most counties don't have.

Lar

The Dubs were banging on the door for a long time before 2011.
Winning begets winning and they managed the team well.
But they have only won 4 all Irelands in 20 years, 3 less than Kerry

It's up to the other teams to beat them 

[Crete Boom]

Sorry Crete Boom, you're right and that wasn't really what I was trying to say. Mayo, Donegal and a few others have taken up the challenge but must continue to do so and not focus on Dublin. Croke Park will always be based in Dublin, they'll always have the biggest population and greatest potential for generating money however, they won't always develop once in a generation players so big counties like Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Kildare, Meath etc. can expect to challenge and win if they continue to do things correctly. Kerry are currently proof of that as they are now developing more of the best young players in Ireland.

I totally agree Zulu. Now if only they could sort the championship structure and fixture list we would be on the pig's back!!

[Zulu]

I'd accept all that Lar but I think Kerry have enough money to fund the development of good minors into good seniors. Money of course is important but while things like Aer Lingus or some clothes company becoming official partners of Dublin GAA it won't impact upon the ability to play. As long as Mayo, Kerry etc. can afford a good medical staff, good S&C experts etc. then they'll be fine.

Ireland and New Zealand are examples of countries with less resources competing well in rugby. The Dallas Cowboys are proof money and resources doesn't always triumph.

I guess what I'm saying is that Dublin is Dublin and we can either shrug our shoulders and complain about things we can't change or we can try our best and enjoy the times when other counties can match them. I think that will be more often than not though I fully accept Dublin will win significantly more in the next 50 years than they won in the last.

[Zulu]

Sorry Crete Boom, you're right and that wasn't really what I was trying to say. Mayo, Donegal and a few others have taken up the challenge but must continue to do so and not focus on Dublin. Croke Park will always be based in Dublin, they'll always have the biggest population and greatest potential for generating money however, they won't always develop once in a generation players so big counties like Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Kildare, Meath etc. can expect to challenge and win if they continue to do things correctly. Kerry are currently proof of that as they are now developing more of the best young players in Ireland.

I totally agree Zulu. Now if only they could sort the championship structure and fixture list we would be on the pig's back!!

Ah here Crete Boom don't encourage me to get on that high horse again!!

[Crete Boom]

Quinlivan and Sweeney are having an average day(by their standards) in front of the posts today!!
I wonder will Jack Kennedy play football or hurling this summer??

[Crete Boom]

Louth making a fightback, only 4 in it now

[Zulu]

Why aren't they pushing up man on man for the Tipp kickouts though? There's nothing to lose now so don't let Tipp have easy possession and eat up the clock working it out.

[Crete Boom]

I don't know Zulu cause they have competed well when Tipp have gone long!! Jesus Liam McGrath is a great sub to be able to bring on!!

[Zulu]

Well that's that. Tipp will be a tough nut for a lot of teams come the summer. Not sure about Louth, it's the first time I've seen them and while they've some good footballers I'm not sure they're capable of challenging division one or two teams.

[DuffleKing]

Quinlivan and Sweeney are having an average day(by their standards) in front of the posts today!!
I wonder will Jack Kennedy play football or hurling this summer??

Having watched jack Kennedy closely last week and loosely today I hope he's a better hurler than he is footballer. However, the main quality he lacked playing football is, I would imagine, a major stumbling block to being an intercounty hurler as well...

[Crete Boom]

Quinlivan and Sweeney are having an average day(by their standards) in front of the posts today!!
I wonder will Jack Kennedy play football or hurling this summer??

Having watched jack Kennedy closely last week and loosely today I hope he's a better hurler than he is footballer. However, the main quality he lacked playing football is, I would imagine, a major stumbling block to being an intercounty hurler as well...

Do you mean pace as in a lack of?

[Captain Obvious]

Hard to read anything out of those league finals today. Both games lacked intensity they were challenge like contests in truth.