Advertisement
©INPHO/James Crombie

Gavin takes a stand against plan to divide Dubs

“One All-Ireland title in 17 years speaks volumes for the dominance of the Dublin senior football team, or lack of.”

JIM GAVIN REJECTED plans to split Dublin GAA in two and insisted that a county which has only won one senior All-Ireland since 1995 cannot be considered to have an unfair advantage.

The debate surfaced again last week as the Dubs’ U21 footballers opened their All-Ireland defence with a 37-point win against Carlow.

Critics claim that population size gives the capital’s teams an unfair advantage, particularly at underage level, but Gavin says that the senior honour roll in both codes does not back up that argument.

“I suppose, from the senior level first of all, one All-Ireland title in 17 years speaks volumes for the dominance of the Dublin senior football team, or lack of,” the Dublin football boss said.

“I don’t think when Kerry were dominant in the 2000s or Kilkenny and Cork were dominant in the hurling, that there was any talk of splitting those counties into two.

“I’m not surprised to hear it but I just think you have to look at the pure stats of even how many All-Ireland finals we have competed in. Mayo have competed in more than we have in the last few years.”

In the coming years, Gavin added, Leinster’s other counties will improve and challenge Dublin’s strength in the minor and U21 grades.

“At underage level, yeah, Dublin have been dominant, but only in the last few years. There is not a decade trend there.

“In most Leinster counties there has been a hell of a lot of good work done in all of those underage grade and I think you’ll see a some of those teams come through strongly in the next few years.”

Nelson, O’Mahony start Dubs’ grudge match against Mayo

Close
5 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Moore
    Favourite Conor Moore
    Report
    Mar 1st 2013, 11:12 AM

    Dublins home advantage in every game should be addressed. I think the argument that Parnell park is Dublins home is gone now.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Moore
    Favourite Keith Moore
    Report
    Mar 1st 2013, 1:41 PM

    It’s a case of the gaa seeing the Euro sign when it comes to Dublin. They know between 40,000-60,000 people will go and look at the dub’s for a championship game with that money been spread around the country either through the Leinster council or central council depending on what stage Dublin play in.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Finlay
    Favourite Ray Finlay
    Report
    Mar 2nd 2013, 8:16 AM

    Nothing to do with the GAA. This is a certain Mr. O’Rourke from Meath who wrote about it in the papers last week. Must have been a quiet news day. It will never happen. Other counties just need to get their acts together and try harder.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Mccarthy
    Favourite Fergal Mccarthy
    Report
    Mar 2nd 2013, 8:33 AM

    On the other hand….imagine an all dublin all ireland:-)

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Amy Ní Caithláin
    Favourite Amy Ní Caithláin
    Report
    Mar 2nd 2013, 11:52 PM

    This is such a mental concept. If being in Dublin gives the team an unfair advantage surely we would have dominated the championship for the last few years?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.