The Dublin Community Blog

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.

 

 

After a disappointing summer of international rugby, the 4 proud provinces of Ireland (Well … Leinster, Munster and Ulster anyway!) will be looking to take the Magners Celtic League by storm. Last years campaign saw Ulster clinch the title on the final weekend by a single point with Leinster following in second and Munster taking 3rd spot.   

Leinster kick off their season with a pre-season friendly in Donnybrook on Friday August 25th in a friendly against London Irish, a fixture which is sure to attract a big crowd. With the Celtic League proper kicking off on September 1st, Leinster have been granted a free weekend which see’s them beginning their league campaign away to the Edinburgh Gunners on Friday September 8th. Thsi game will bring an an even more important meaning with both teams being in the same Heineken Cup Group!

The Cardiff Blues are Leinster’s first home game of the Celtic League. The Welshmen take on Leinster in Donnybrook on Saturday September 16th at 19:30. Fixtures to wwatch out for this season are below …

Saturday October 7th (19:30) – Leinster Vs Munster
Saturday December 2nd (19:30) - Ulster Vs Leinster
Wednesday December 27th (15:00) - Munster Vs Leinster
Sunday December 31st (14:30) – Leinster Vs Ulster

ROAR ON LEINSTER!

The company I work for took us out to the races last Wednesday night in. I’d never been to the horse races before and I only ever bet on the Grand National which I never win. Despite that it was a fun night.

First of all, despite the company paying I should tell you how much it costs. Basic entry is eur 14. Entry with the BBQ, a pint of Miller and a eur 2 tote bet costs eur 27. That was the one we had. There is a super package which cost eur 55 I think. That got ticket holders access to a special bar and someone to advise them on the bets.

I liked the BBQ, but I imagine vegetarians would have gone away a little hungry. It doesn’t help to have a thirst on you either, as there were long queues at many of the beer stands. We had beer vouchers and they were only taken at certain stands.

The races them selves run every half hour. There were free copies of the Evening Herald being handed out on the way into the race course so these allowed us to pick horses based on jockey name recognition and owners. It didn’t help but I only bet eur 5 a race and one of my picks placed in one race so I only lost around 10 euros, not bad when you factor in the free entry and free beer from the company. There are loads of betting stands, naturally it’s much easier to bet than it is to buy beer or get food. Some of the TOTE betting stands even had computer terminals to automate the betting so you can bet without displaying your complete lack of knowledge.

The races ended at 9pm and we took the LUAS home, the terminus is about a 20 minute walk away which is very handy. For those who did not want to leave there was a band playing music on a stage and the bars stayed open.

All in all its a fun group evening, especially if everyone knows nothing about races and the challenge is to try to be the member of your group who picks a winner.

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.

I saw something new for Dublin this morning. One of Dublin’s free-sheets, Metro Ireland, is now being handed out by girls (and possibly guys, though I didn’t see any) on Inline Skates (Roller Blades to some!). Not only is seeing one of the freesheets being handed out on skates a new and unusual step, but, seeing skates on the streets of Dublin is also very unusual.

As a keen skater for a few years now, it got me thinking, could this be the start of something new for Dublin? I should certainly hope so! I’ve long toyed with the idea of skating in and out of work in Temple Bar from where I leave my car at Clontarf every day, but, know that it would be a major battle with traffic, and the usual collection of scumbags lined up to try and knock you over. I dunno, it’s certainly something I must try out sometime soon. Maybe I should try and set up a City-Skate day with a little help from Dublinblog readers?! At least that way we could get people used to the idea of skates on the streets of Dublin in a group!!

And, what’s the story with skating groups around the city nowadays anyways? I know that a few years back there used to be a gathering on a Sunday morning in Howth, does this still go on? If not, where are skaters congregating nowadays. And no, don’t tell me at the front of the Central Bank, they’re skateboarders, I’m talking Inline and Roller Skaters here!

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!