Replying To Báireoir:  "People are very quick to mention Dublin's funding, but they always forget to mention what the other counties are getting. Dublin have gotten €21.8 million since 2007 and they've won 8 out 32 available All-Irelands since then. The nine highest "earners" after Dublin are Cork (€2.8 million, 1 All-Ireland), Antrim (€2.3 million, no All-Irelands), Meath (€2.1 million, no All-Irelands), Kildare (€1.9 million, no All-Irelands), Derry (€1.9 million, no All-Irelands), Wicklow (€1.6 million, no All-Irelands), Louth (€1.6 million, no All-Irelands), Wexford (€1.6 million, no All-Irelands), and Laois (€1.6 million, no All-Irelands).

Kerry are 11th (€1.5 million, 2 All-Irelands)
Tipperary are 12th (€1.5 million, 3 All-Irelands)
Galway are 13th (€1.5 million, 1 All-Ireland)
Limerick are 18th (€1.3 million, 4 All-Irelands)
Kilkenny are 21st (€1.1 million, 7 All-Irelands)
Donegal are 22nd (€1.1 million, 1 All-Ireland)
Tyrone are 30th (€0.9 million, 2 All-Irelands)

If funding was the key factor it is said to be, then Antrim, Meath, Kildare and Derry should have been winning All-Irelands alongside Dublin and Cork, instead of Kilkenny or Tyrone. Instead, counties like Meath and Kildare seem to have been spending more time worrying about how often the Dubs play in Croker.

Obviously, funding is very important, and it has helped Gaelic games grow in Dublin, which has contributed to on-field success, at least in football. But at the same time a county with a larger population is always going to need more funding than one with a smaller population. And the overheads that the clubs in Dublin have to put up with are far in excess of what other counties are dealing with, which means the funding is very much needed for coaching. But clearly there is still a considerable imbalance that needs to be redressed. Whether a per capita or per player system is fairer I can't answer, but I certainly think the funding needs to be apportioned far more fairly to help the counties that are really struggling.

From a hurling perspective I think there needs to be a big injections of funds and coaching support to help the 9 counties that have been up and down between Christy Ring, Joe McDonagh, and the Leinster SHC in the last few years. If these counties could be brought up to a level where they could legitimately challenge for League or Leinster titles it would be a much-needed boost for hurling."

Replying To MesAmis:  "And you're back to saying Dublin don't decide where they play.

It's very simple you keep saying Dublin don't have any say in where they play. Is that right or wrong? If they're voting to play in Croke Park what exactly are they doing?

There's no need for one of your essays just a simple answer. Surely that's not too difficult for you now is it?
oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1233 - 08/05/2023 13:17:01

Dublin don't decide where they play.

There are 12 counties in Leinster and 32 in the country.

Dublin is only 1 county out of 12 and 1 county out of 32.

1 is a smaller number than 12 and an even smaller number when compared with 32 (maybe write that sentence down for yourself as it might come in handy in future).

It really is very simple, Dublin can't decide where their games are played.

Apologies if my attempts to make you see that the number 1 is of lesser value than 12 or 32 have been too long or essaylike for you to take in. Maybe try reading one sentence at a time and fully understanding it before moving on to the next sentence.

Best of luck."

Replying To oneoff:  "I think it's you who needs to read things more carefully.

As I said it's a very very simple question and your essay isn't really needed.

So again a simple question. Do the Dublin CB vote to play their games in Croke Park? It's a simple yes or no question. If the answer is yes do they then not decide where they want to play? Again a simple yes or no answer.

As I said no need for an essay just a simple yes or no.

Surely for sure a highly intelligent poster, or at least you think you are, that's not a very different thing to do now is it?"

Replying To brianb:  "21.8 million is a lot more than Cork's 2.8 million - and thats before you compare sponsorship from AIG to local sponsorship from the likes of Brady Ham or Bective Stud.

I think thats to root of the problem here - the amount of cash poured into Dublin in over 10 years ago swung the balance way too much for fair competition. Dublin being a big city always had enough other natural advantages. In fairness to the GAA management there has been more money for coaching available in other Leinster counties for the past few years - it should start to feed into senior in the next couple of years. There is another question as to if this is fair on other provinces.

But here we're talking about one of the advantages that Dublin are still being given that they don't need to be - namely Home Advantage. It will be interesting to see where their neutral game in the All Ireland group is played - I think most on here would accept that Dublin in Croke Park are not neutral. Lets wait and see. There is the added complication this year for Kildare having no home ground while St Conleths is being rebuilt - but Glen Ryan's comments may have prevented Kildare from being home to the Leinster Champions in Croke Park for that game - which nobody in Kildare would want.

As for the Leinster semi-finals; if 50,000 were looking to see Dublin v Kildare in a Leinster semi final then it could only be on in Croke Park - thats how it was when it was more competitive. But for now maybe 15,000 went to see that game - this would be much better in a proper neutral ground. A bit of common sense is needed by the fixture setters."

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Kildare can pick wherever they wish for their match against Dublin."

Replying To oneoff:  "I think it's you who needs to read things more carefully.

As I said it's a very very simple question and your essay isn't really needed.

So again a simple question. Do the Dublin CB vote to play their games in Croke Park? It's a simple yes or no question. If the answer is yes do they then not decide where they want to play? Again a simple yes or no answer.

As I said no need for an essay just a simple yes or no.

Surely for sure a highly intelligent poster, or at least you think you are, that's not a very different thing to do now is it?"

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "I trust Glenn Ryan and the rest will be supporting the Kildare intermediate camógs in their protest against the manner in which their own county board has treated them.

There might be an anti Dub angle there somewhere perhaps."

Replying To brianb:  "He certainly should be. A lot of seemingly basic things there.

I don't see it as anti-dublin to point out where fixtures are being set and favoring Dublin over other teams just as it's not anti-Kildare to point out our apparent camogie failings."