The Dublin Community Blog

Ok, I admit, I’ve not posted since July 2006 for several reasons … (1) Busy (2) Busy and (3) Busy. Now that’s sorted, here’s a catch up on all things sport.

• Dublin GAA – The Dubs again came short in their quest for the Holy Grail that is Sam Maguire. Alot of analysis has been written and put forward as to why Pillar’s men fell just short of the final hurdle in what was one of the weaker All Ireland’s in recent years. The fact remains that an over-hyped team with forwards who have the inability to take scores when it matters will never win an All-Ireland. Dublin’s best forwards throughout the championship being Alan Brogan and Conal Keaney are the only forward’s in a blue jersey one would trust with taking points from the 45 metre line from hand. Pillar’s new forwards in 2006 being Kevin Bonner, Declan Lally and to an extent, born again Ray Cosgrove do not have what it takes to be All Ireland winning forwards. Consistency is key but consitency against stronger counties OUTSIDE Leinster is paramount.

  The Allianz National League of 2007 was another groundhog day tournament in the life of Dublin Football. Brutal away form and the odd win at home get’s teams nowhere. There is light at the end of the tunnel … with every one of Dublin’s games in the 2007 Championship being in Croke Park then it’s sure to be a “Home Game” every game. Get out the jump leads, the Bandwagon needs starting.





• Leinster Rugby – Where does one start, at the beginning. Another slow start off the blocks in the Magners leage with disappointing away form dogging Leinster’s quest for Magners League glory. Losses to Edinburgh and the Scarlets away with the usual fortress Donnybrook that follows Leinster’s away losses were par for the course (And still are coming to the end of the Magners League season). What’s surprising that Leinster sit on top of the Magners League and 5 points clear too! With such sporadic form in the league, one has to ask the question whether it’s a drop in quality as a whole or are Leinster acting the mickey just to create an exciting end to the season? Leinster have 3 games left to wrap up the Magners Leage with an inevitable 5 pointer at home to the Borders sandwiched in between 2 tricky away ties to the Ospreys and the Blues on the final day. What’s worrying is Leinster’s away form, who knows what team turns up in Swansea and Cardiff? Yours truly prays that it’s the one with Brian O’Driscoll in phenominal form oozing leadership from forwards to backs.

  As for the Heineken Cup, I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe another time I’ll share my joy/anger/sorrow with you fine people.

The GAA has announced that the Dublin-Tyrone Allianz NFL game under lights at Croke Park is close to being an 82,000 sell out which will be a record for the League!

There are less than 1,500 terrace tickets left and all stand tickets have been distributed through the clubs.

So Dublin – Let the wonderful madness that is Dublin GAA commence. Also not to forget the Hurlers who are in action this weekend in the Walsh Cup.

Wohoo!

UPDATE: This game is now a sell-out!

Up the Dubs!

I’ve just been reading over the site here, and I note with interest our little poll running over on the right hand side there. The question, “Who will win the All Ireland”. The results, I have to say, as a non football fan, suprise me. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that Mayo were being billed as a total underdog, with an under-performing team that didn’t have a chance of beating Dublin. No, that wasn’t just Dublin spin either from what I can recall, most pundits were saying it. And Kerry, aren’t they one of the gaelic football powerhouses?! To see 70% of people saying that Mayo are going to win is a little suprising.

Given I’m not a betting man, is anyone able to tell me if the bookies concur with this?!

Oh dear, oh dear, it’s half time and Dublin are behind to Mayo 1-5 to 0-9. It may be just 1 point but it’s not following the script. Despite popular belief in Dublin circles their name may not actually be engraved on the 2006 section of Sam just yet…

Update: Dublin have lost! Mayo 1-16 Dublin 2-12. What a match. No one deserved to loose, a replay would have been the fairest result.

Croke Park will close tomorrow for renovations and wont reopen until next summer…

If you have never been to Croke Park for a GAA football or hurling match, going along this weekend is highly recommended. Saturday is a football quarter final double header and Sunday features three hurling games. Croke Park is a very impressive venue and even if you don’t support any of the competing teams, a great atmosphere is guaranteed.

Saturday August 5th

All Ireland Senior Football Quarter Finals
2.00pm – Armagh v Kerry
4.00pm – Cork v Donegal

Sunday August 6th

All Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-Final
12.30pm – Cork v Galway

Christy Ring Cup Final
2.00pm – Carlow v Antrim

All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final
4.00pm – Cork v Waterford

Tickets can be purchased on the GAA website and Ticketmaster and from Mc Caughey’s Shop on Clonliffe Rd. and Benny’s Shop on Emmet St. in the Croke Park area on the day of the matches.

Dublin etched their name on to the Delaney Cup for the second successive year in front of 81,754 (754 of which were Offaly Fans) in a sun drenched Croke Park yesterday.

A slow enough start saw the Dubs go behind by 0-3 to 0-0. But the Dubs gained momentum with 4 unanswered scores to see Offaly draw level on 0-4 a piece. The first half ended scrappy with each side exchanging points leaving the score at 0-6 each at the end of 35 minutes.

Dublin upped the pace in the second half and again scored 4 unanswered points. Offaly’s case was not helped by the sending off of mid-fielder Alan McNamee for 2 bookable offences and thus the Dubs continued their onslaught winnign comfortably in the end 1-15 to 0-9.

Note to Dervla – G’waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan MAYO!

Dublin have named the same 15 players who started in their demolition of Laois at the Dubs last outing in Croke Park. While the same 15 players will be starting, there have been some positional changes.

The Dubs also welcome back now fully fit Darren Magee, Stephen O’Shaughnessy and Paddy Christie who have been named among the substitutes. Demand for tickets in the capital alone has surpassed 45,000 already and there is sure to be close to 75,000 in Croke Park for Sunday’s Leinster Final.

Dublin opened their Croke Park account this afternoon by dealing out a jolly good thrashing to Mick O’Dwyers poor Laois side. The SUUUUPER Dubs ran in 3-17 to Laois’ 0-12, with Mossie Quinn bagging 2-03 goals and Conal Keaney picking up 6 points. Dublin welcomed back MAN OF THE MATCH Ray Cosgrove who picked up 1-03 and gave Paul “Pillar” Caffrey an excellent reason to start him in the Leinster Final against Offaly/Wexford.

From a personal point of view, yours truly was present among the majority of Laois supporters as I refused to accept Ticketmasters suggested “BEST AVAILABLE” tickets which were in fact, the worst seats in the stadium. Therefore, I bought my tickets directly from the Leinster Branch’s Headquarters in Portlaoise which of course meant most people around me would be Laois fans. Little did I care however as I made myself heard among the section of Laois fans who were quite loud and rude when Laois went 1 point up (That’s the most they ever lead Dublin by). Of course, when Dublin walked away with a 14 point lead, I was the only one left singing.

On a side note, I got my inspiration for this title when I was leaving Croke Park, I heard some father say to his child … “Where did we bleedin’ send em’?” to which the kid replied “Back ta bleedin’ SUPERMACS”

Roll on the Leinster final, whoever the challengers may be!

What better team to give Croke Park it’s first full house of the season than the Super Dubs. Dublin meet last years beaten Leinster finalists Laois in front of a packed 82,500 house in Croke Park this Sunday with a throw in time of 2:00. Dublin will be looking to improve greatly on their lacklustre first round defeat of Longford in Pearse Park. Defensive holes were a major concern for Pillar Caffrey who now looks certain to call on the services of one Stephen O’Shaughnessy who was the most impressive defender from Dublins 2005 All Ireland campaign.

One thing’s for sure – It’ll be an excellent game!

For those following the National Football and Hurling Leagues, you will notice that while the footballers had a decent enough campaign (without qualifying for the Semi-Finals), the hurlers now face Westmeath this Sunday in Portlaoise in the Division 2 Semi-Final after gaining a 100% record in Division 2A

All is not lost on the footballers side, far from it in fact. Dublin fought out a well earned draw against Kerry in Killarney last Sunday to the score of 0-13 each. That being attained without the services of Mossie Quinn and Ciaran Whelan will raise a few eyebrows among fellow Leinster teams looking to knock Dublin off their perch as Leinster Champions.

Somehow, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Kerry for this year. My money is on a Dublin Vs Kerry meeting in Corker this Summer and this time it’ll be for Sam.