The Dubs, The Monies & The Prejudices

I know this topic has been done to death but this is an article the owl lad wrote so just thought I'd throw it on here...

The Dubs, The Monies and the Prejudices.
The Dublin football team's quest for five in a row is causing a lot of angst among commentators and journalists alike. Fearing that no team can stop them they are getting their retaliation in first before their worst nightmares are realised.
The Sunday Game programme last Sunday provided the live coverage of the Leinster football final between Dublin and Meath. The programme opened up with a 'Prime Time Special' which could have been titled "Oh My God, How Has It Come To This" in relation to Dublin's football success. It honed in on the amount of monies that Dublin GAA receive from headquarters to run their business and one was left in no doubt that it was this factor that was the real reason for Dublin's success. Back to the studio and despite Ciaran Whelan's gallant protestations that this present Dublin team could in no way be impacted by Dublin's general increase in funding and that they and their Manager are of exceptional talent, the host, Joanne Cantwell kept coming back with "But what about the money?"
The hope, seemingly, is that if you keep throwing the mud, it will stick..
Is it plausible that in any other sport across the world when TV coverage of the final of a competition between two teams that it would include the finances of one of those teams for nearly half of that match's playing time?
And before we lose all reality altogether, all these players are amateurs!!
Other commentators and journalists alike play to their base by acting the bull in the Dublin football china shop.
Diarmuid Connolly was one of the finest pieces of china around. He is gone now. Before the false narrative of the money came into play he filled their column inches and us Dubs feel that a genuine injustice was done to an amateur genius like him.
-But what about the money?

If you are going to equate funding and Dublin GAA success well let's just have a closer look.
In 2016, Mayo were the biggest spenders on their Inter county teams with €1.6m followed by Dublin, Cork, Galway, Tipperary and Roscommon respectively as those having spent over €1million.
In 2017 Cork were the biggest spenders on their intercounty teams with €1.7m expended followed by Dublin, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry respectively as those having expended over €1million.
While not having the breakdown for 2018 it is Galway who top the list with €1.8m
Kerry was going for five in a row in 1982. In their first final in 1979 they beat Dublin by 17 pts. In the following finals they beat Dublin again, by 11 pts, Roscommon by 3 pts and Offaly by 7 pts respectively, before succumbing to that famous last minute goal by Offaly's Seamus Darby in the 1982 final.
Dublin's present quest for five in a row started in 2015 when they beat Kerry by 3pts, Mayo by 1pt in 2016 (after a replay), Mayo again by 1pt in 2017 and Tyrone by 6pts in 2018. In the four finals combined Kerry won their finals by a collective margin of 38pts as against Dublin's 11pts.. Was there a collective scratching of heads as to what could be done about Kerry's dominance.. Was there an inquest into the type of grass that was growing in Kerry?, into what type of eggs that the Kerry hens were laying?
My recollection of that time is that all the talk was of how good this Kerry team and their Manager, Mick O'Dwyer were.
But what about the money?

Now let us look at some other facts that eh.. sort of exposes the not so extraordinary success of Dublin GAA.
In hurling, Kilkenny have won 11 senior Hurling titles since 2000. Was there an inquest into the type of magic that cats in Kilkenny were casting on their players? How many titles have Dublin Hurlers won in that period? How many finals have they competed in during that period.. The answer, sadly, is none to both of those questions. In fact it is 1938 since Dublin last won a senior hurling title. 81 long years and do you know what folks, there was only one Dublin man, Jim Byrne in the team.
But what about the money?

Dublin have won one Minor football All Ireland since 1984. Kerry have won seven, including five in a row that they completed last year.. and it could go on.
But what about the money?

Dublin last won a Minor Hurling All Ireland in 1965. Since then Kilkenny have won 14 titles, Galway 12, Cork 11 and Tipperary 8.
But what about the money?

Dublin Camogie haven't won an All Ireland since 1984.
In the period since then Cork have won 14 titles, Kilkenny have won 9, Tipperary 5 and Wexford 4.
Dublin has not even contested a final since then.
- But what about the money?

Between 2005 and 2016 Cork ladies football, have won 11 all Ireland titles, 5 in a row (2005 -2009) and 6 in a row (2011-2016) with only Dublin stopping them in 2010 from winning.. TWELVE IN A ROW.
- But what about the money?

Dublin GAA has many problems. Large Dublin areas have no GAA at all in them. Finglas, with a bigger population than Leitrim has only one GAA club, Erins Isle. Clondalkin, with a population of nearly 50,000 also has only one GAA club, Round Towers, the Club of Jim Gavin. Neither clubs have competed at the top level of Dublin GAA for many years now. GAA in all working class areas of Dublin is seriously under threat and it seems that the powers that be are silent on this and are prepared to concede these heavily populated areas to soccer. Over the years both Gaelic Games and Soccer have done a decent job in deprived areas of Dublin. For areas like these to lose an established body like the GAA will lead to serious social consequences for those same areas down the road.
These areas could do with massive GAA investment.. ah but you know yourself..

So what about the money?
Definitely look again at the distribution of monies but don't base it on the Dublin model because the Dublin model, if you were to base it on money, success, participation and retention has failed dramatically. No doubt, the investment deficits that I have outlined above in Dublin are badly needed across all counties.
And please Mr.& Mrs Croke Park when you are adding up your projected income for next year and beyond please drop the Sky package so that the 60 year-old man or woman all across Ireland who have probably spent all their lives looking after GAA teams can watch their county team play through the TV licence money that they pay to the National Broadcaster.
And finally back to this great Dublin Football team.
As the then club manager of Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA club in Ringsend I witnessed first-hand the changes that were introduced in 2010 after Meath had beaten them in the Leinster semi-final and put five goals past them in doing so. They were so unlucky to lose out to Cork in the All Ireland semi-final later that summer. In the winter months that followed they gathered in our clubhouse at 8.00pm each Sunday night. Sunday night!!.. Down at the back pitch beside the beach and as cold a wind that would test the Russian Ice Hockey team, blowing in from the Irish Sea. When everyone else was winding down and heading for the leaba to prepare for the week ahead these guys were testing out the changes that Pat Gilroy and Mickey Whelan were trying to implement in an A v B match. This was probably their 5th or 6th gathering of the week. It was very much stop start. Mickey Whelan played bad Cop, screaming at players if they got it wrong and Pat Gilroy, the good Cop, putting a consoling hand on the offending player's back and whispering to him what he did wrong in the game plan..
I kicked the ball back to Stephen Cluxton a few times from behind the goal. Little did I know then that he was to change the face of Gaelic Football forever.
They usually pulled out of our Car Park at 10.00 each Sunday night. It was nights like these, I believe, as they tried to incorporate a defensive strategy , that the basis for the success of this football team's era was laid and by getting over that long 16 year wait the following September.
In came Jim Gavin and with all the polishing cloths of a Dublin nanny doing her brasses years ago, put the finishing shines to a steely exterior.
And running parallel to all of this were the likes of a man named Paddy Christie who with others and against all the odds were producing players from Ballymun, one of Dublin's most socially deprived areas. Ballymun Kickhams have produced the backbone of players throughout this reign and incredibly their players hold 26 All Ireland medals between them since 2011. What some of these players achieved in the face of such adversity is nothing short of incredible. Absolute Heroes!!
This achievement alone lays folly the notion that money is a contributor to this wonderful, incredible, fantastic and exhilarating Dublin Football team.
If other counties believe the fake news well then it will be longer still before they break their dominance.
Deep down they know what has to be done, and they know it has nothing to do with money.
Suck it up folks!!!!!
Shay Connolly

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 27/06/2019 15:31:22    2201757

No offence intended but I couldn't even be bothered reading it as its another attempt to justify why Dublin get most of the funding and how it has absolutely no bearing on their success lol.

In other sports it it accepted that money brings success. Team GB invested millions and hey presto they are winning loads of Olympic gold medals. Nobody can deny that Dublin have the most talented group of players and to be honest they probably don't need the money but it does help. If money isn't important, then why not let the weaker counties have a larger share of it?

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1951 - 27/06/2019 15:52:32    2201761

He calls any notion that money has helped Dublin "fake news".

Well that's me convinced!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5333 - 27/06/2019 15:54:08    2201764

Stopped reading after you said in 2016 mayo were the biggest spenders followed by Dublin ,seen as mayo had to pay massive hotel costs many times ,pay their players massive travel expenses to travel from Dublin and other places to mayo for training and matches 2 or 3 times a week for a few months something that Dublin didn't have to do either of and yet ye were still 2nd biggest spenders ahead of other counties who had to do the same as mayo makes me wonder what ye spent the money on for the team.
Also think mayo and other counties had to raise That money themselves.
Saying that I don't think Dublin's success is down to the money they got from gaa ya it helped but there a fantastic team just don't go on about what counties spend on the team when Dublin don't have to spend money on things other counties have to

Galwayjoe86 (Galway) - Posts: 258 - 27/06/2019 16:14:06    2201772

Absolutely ridiculous piece. Tribe in the highest order.

Few things.....you say mayo etc were the biggest spenders in 15,16 etc. Do you know how much it costs to put up 35 odd players and maybe 15 backroom team in a hotel in Dublin? Or travel expenses in general, something the Dubs don't really have to worry about.

Also the last line....about knowing what other counties have to do. I presume you mean other counties have to work harder etc. Bull.
What about when Dublin weren't as successful as they are now. Were you told to suck it up? NO!!! You were given millions to improve.

Also what about Bertie and the rest of them giving ye millions?? Should that not have been shared out?

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2105 - 27/06/2019 16:16:00    2201773

I just wish the Dubs could have a less blinkered outlook and realise it's extremely frustrating for other counties seeing this happening. The advantages the Dubs get effect is all and will continue to do so.

And I know it's not your fault but just try to look at it from other supporters point of view. The dubs would be complaining just as much if the shoe was on the other foot.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2105 - 27/06/2019 16:20:46    2201775

I think Tómas O'Sé wrapped it up nicely on the throw-in last evening.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8821 - 27/06/2019 16:24:58    2201777

no offence to your oul lad CD, but this is just more of the same old junk you boys have been putting forward.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 527 - 27/06/2019 16:34:39    2201783

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 27/06/2019 16:59:28    2201791

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8821 - 27/06/2019 17:14:03    2201794

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 27/06/2019 17:21:32    2201796

The point is that money did not create this team. We've just been blessed with what is an unbeliable team and manager that came together at the right time.

There's a desperate attempt going on here to discredit this teams achievements. End of!!!

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 27/06/2019 17:26:52    2201800

A Roy Curtis wannabe. An astonishingly low bar has been set.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8929 - 27/06/2019 17:33:15    2201803

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 27/06/2019 17:37:02    2201804

The GAA want to be strong in the capital. They want to fend off competition from rugby and soccer. It's hard to see them reversing the trend of investment into GAA.

The inter provincial championship does offer a fair solution. Aside from Gaelic Games, Dublin has essentially become a province. It's nothing unusual in Irish history. Once upon a time there were 7 provinces in Ireland.

Picture the following inter provincial championship:
Dublin
Leinster
Munster
Connaught
Ulster

It'll be a fair level of competition. It offers an opportunity to embrace the evolution of the game in the capital and to provide them with a meaningful level of competition.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 27/06/2019 17:56:45    2201810

The bottom line is haters gonna hate....

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2685 - 27/06/2019 18:32:19    2201817

Those areas (Clondalkin and Finglas) shouldn't recieve massive investment at the expense of other counties.

Hawkeye9212 (Donegal) - Posts: 266 - 27/06/2019 18:33:18    2201818

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 27/06/2019 18:50:11    2201825

starting to sound like the Man city fans

BeJasus (UK) - Posts: 383 - 27/06/2019 18:51:13    2201828

Has anyone mentioned the four centers of excellence we're building. ;)

Slow of the mark some journos and lads on here, disappointed in some if I'm being truthful! ;)

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4541 - 27/06/2019 19:21:48    2201837