What Dublin have managed to achieve since 2011 is a remarkable feat. To win nine All-Ireland titles during this time is something that we thought we would never witness.
None of us could ever have thought that they would bypass the success of the great Kerry team of the ’70s and ’80s. They have done just that and they look like they can add on plenty more in the coming years.
I was listening to the Matt Cooper Show on Monday evening and he spoke about possible retirements coming from Dublin.
Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimmons and Dean Rock to name a few were mentioned.
They then went on to discuss that the gap could potentially be a lot closer next year with more teams coming into contention because of these senior figures possibly hanging up their boots.
I believe the gap has got a lot closer, but the fact of the matter is Dublin and Kerry remain the barometer. And while Derry and Monaghan gave good accounts of themselves in the semi-finals, they are just not as good as the big two right now and that is the difference.
The same type of conversation was had when Cian O’Sullivan, Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh Macauley retired – but it didn’t stop Dublin from winning All-Irelands.
Read more:
- Latest Sam Maguire win probably the last dance for Dubs veterans admits Dessie Farrell
- James McCarthy and Dean Rock hint at retirement after banking another All-Ireland winners' medal
- Kevin Madden: Dublin's big names got them over the line
On the game itself last Sunday, Dublin outperformed Kerry and fully deserved their victory. They had big performers in Paul Mannion, Colm Basquel and Brian Fenton and they were well supported by the rest who were
full of energy and running throughout.
Their bench, as it has done on
so many occasions, had a huge impact. And if you can call on quality like Jack McCaffrey then you’re on a different level from most teams.
Sky Blues boss Dessie Farrell won the sideline battle, but the two biggest decisions that he got right this year was bringing Stephen Cluxton back into the squad and getting Pat Gilroy to link up as a member of his backroom team.
How many counties have the luxury of attracting an All-Ireland-winning manager into a backroom role? There is no doubt that this was a masterstroke as Dessie would know the high esteem in which Pat is held by the players.
He was the one man who ignited the flame and instilled the belief
in Dublin that we are now witnesses to.
A lot has been said of the performance of David Clifford given the high levels he performs at week-in, week-out.
There is no denying that he didn’t have his greatest game ever in Sunday’s showpiece, but he got on a lot of ball and it was just his final decision that often let him down. His radar was off and, no matter how good any player is, there will always be off-days.
I don’t think it should give many the opportunity to suggest that he isn’t one of the best, if not the best, we have ever seen.
Peter Canavan and Colm Cooper had plenty of off-days. Jack O’Shea and Pat Spillane did too. The big difference, though, is that each and every one of their performances was not scrutinised across social media channels.
That’s the GAA world that David Clifford is now part of and that can be a very difficult place to be for even the best players out there.
One guarantee is that Clifford will use Sunday as motivation for himself and for Kerry in the years to come – and that is one scary thought for every defender out there. He is the frontrunner for the footballer of the year, with some obscene performances and scores across 2023, and to do all of this during a period of caring for and then mourning for his mother, you can only have total and utter respect for the man.
I’m not leaving Paudie Clifford out here because I know how difficult it is to lose your mother. To be able to stay in a strong head space and perform as those guys have done so needs to be admired.
The county season is now finished and the baton is passed over to the club scene to commence their championships.
I’m not a fan of the All-Ireland final being played in July, but the clubs do now have their players to themselves. Each county has their standard bearers, like the Dublins and the Kerrys, but each county also has a sleeping giant. I pray that Killeavy will be Armagh’s.
n This is my final column for the Irish News so I would like to thank them for this opportunity over the past few years as well as Louis Boyd Menswear for their kind sponsorship of the column.
I hope you all enjoyed reading them, but for now it’s over and out.
