We Need to Talk about Dublin

By Ciaran Deely

This is a topic of significant sensitivities. How does one respect the gladiators of the colosseum   whilst analysing the challenges facing the GAA?

QPR FC Sport Scientist and former London Senior football team manager Ciaran Deely discusses the Dublin situation in the wider context of the GAA and what steps the GAA can be taken to promote more equality on the GAA inter-county scene. 

Appreciation of this Dublin team

We all admire how this Dublin team plays. In Croke Park last Saturday night I was once again lucky enough to bear witness to the most bewildering spectre of athleticism, technical ability and psychological strength that I’ve ever seen in a Gaelic football team.

Having briefly met some of the players in a personal capacity, it really is unsurprising their achievement in the game. Paul Mannion’s mindset in moving to China, Jack McCaffrey fundraising in Africa, and Johnny Coopers willingness to spend winter reflecting on where he can improve each season.  We are dealing with exceptional men both on and off the field.

The Guardiola of the GAA world

This group of players are led by the Guardiola of the GAA. They have resounding belief in the Jim Gavin project.  This journey together means everything to them, to represent the county of Dublin and to leave their jersey in a better place. In ways you could say they are the All Blacks of the GAA, something AIG believes too.

The scale of accomplishment of this should never be underestimated. For one man to create a culture with a singular determination to reach their goal; attain it; and be seemingly unfazed by the pitfalls of success is astounding. That to me is this team’s great achievement. This is a structure devoid of ego.

 Elephant in the Room

A worrying pattern has developed in society – it is a trend of absolutism. We seem to have entered an age where cool-headed analysis is not welcome anymore. To say we cannot appreciate this wonderful team and also question the present situation in the GAA is unfortunate.

It’s not begrudgery to ask questions. Dublin players themselves ask questions of their own process. The level of volunteerism excuse is condescending and unjust to volunteers nationwide. Concerns about the future must be heard. We’ve got to have the discussion. 

Funding, Professionalism and Population

Last week in these pages I mentioned how Dublin have extracted their natural benefits – large population, urban proximity, tradition and good genetics- and maximised its potential, with the addition of a professional organisational support system, providing a base to allow Dublin GAA thrive.

Their business support structure has been equally as impressive. Performance in sport is multi-factorial. The natural advantages mentioned above require money spent wisely. It’s the elephant in the room, and sticking our heads in the sand and refusing to even accept it’s an issue, allows it to fester.

Working as a Games Promotion Officer for Dublin GAA from 2008-2011, I saw first-hand the Dublin juggernaut being assembled.  A sublime network of full-time coaches. The first part of our job was to recruit and develop young players from the primary schools. The second part was to seek to develop the club in general- improve structures in the club, tutor the coach education programme, and set up and run the academy system.

On Prime Time on Tuesday, the Na Fianna Chairperson made ill of the fact that their GPO has to manage kids from 10 different primary schools. What a wonderful problem to have.

These coaches have contributed to the overall health of the Dublin GAA family. The much-herald €17m from 2007-2017 that Dublin received continues to have a positive development impact from grassroots to Senior team. This funding is apportioned to coaching and games development, means other funding can be allocated to the commercial side. Dublin now have a professional business model and the best player-pathway in the game. It’s very hard to compete with that, population numbers aside.

Is it Cyclical?

Supporters and administrators say there was never such level of questioning when the Kilkenny hurlers of the 2000s and Kerry footballers of the 70s and 80s were completing their 4 in a row. There wasn’t.

A potential reason is the subsequent decline of both teams indicated a natural cyclical cycle. The stats do not suggest this is a once off team for Dublin. Excellence is replacing excellence. Dublin under Jim Gavin are already regenerating. Unbelievably the latest batch of players are better than the players they are replacing. A great team, certainly. A great production unit? Most definitely. They should be applauded for this. Their coaching and S&C coaching are the best in the business.

42 players played championship football during the 5 in a row success. Only 7 players started both the 2015 and 2019 All Irelands. Kerry had 13 start their quest for 5 in a row.  Kilkenny had 9 players constant between 2003 and 2009. One could argue Dublin have won 7 of the last 9 All Irelands whilst their machine is only beginning to function for the purpose it is now intended for. There is no evidence to suggest a decline is imminent.

What’s to be done

No one wants to blow the whistle and call halt to Dublin’s success. The GAA, however, is supposed to be a community-based association, operating on the principle of equality. Does the GAA now want a monopoly of one team in our association. What is the plan if 5 in a row gets to 9 or 10 in a row? One could argue we are already late to the game.

The decision by Congress last year to turn down Donegal’s motion that no county can play their Super 8s home and neutral games in Croke Park showed an element of the GAA Congress out of touch with the basics of competition equality. No one wants to blow the whistle.

It does not make sense that a county can refer to our National Stadium as its home venue. Much effort and finance go into the development and upkeep of county grounds around the country, a drain on resources not afforded to Dublin. The fairness of competition structure is more important than how many seats you can fill.

Croke Park

Do we need county boards to outsource the paying of mileage and meals to be a centralised function of Croke Park? With the disparity of funding and ability to raise cash through jersey sponsors and commercial deals, there could be a realignment of this. Each county should keep a percentage of their sponsorship money, with the remaining put into a centralised pot to be utilised for the purpose of managing such costs.

Perhaps this can be enhanced to centrally cater for managing the expenditure of all teams participating in the search for Sam to include sports science, analysis and medical costs. Many county boards are struggling with various fund-raising initiatives required to fund county teams. A fund-raising problem Dublin don’t have if evidence of the €57,336 raised in 2016 is to be believed. Allowing county boards to focus on coaching development may allow for a greater use of financial and human resources.

The Chasing Pack

A long-term pathway to mirror Dublin’s off field structures needs to be rolled out across the nation. Kildare and Meath, with the population and finances they have, should look to replicate the core fundamentals of Dublin’s ‘Blue Wave’ Strategic Plan of 2011-2017.  A strategic plan for the nation at county board level is urgently needed. Each county needs a CEO, Commercial Manager and a Head of Performance to bed down a professional LTAD S&C plan to replicate the Dubs in order to level the playing field. Croke Park must facilitate this. At the core of the Dublin operation is, of course, really good people. This must be remembered also.

A Dublin North and South

Back in 2002, the GAA’s Strategic Review Committee showed real courage and foresight in putting forward a range of recommendations to serve the GAA into the future. The most controversial topic, of course, was splitting Dublin into two counties.

With the urbanisation of Irish society in general, and the continued migration of young people East, this is the inevitable consequence of such a societal issue. It is the single biggest challenge facing the GAA. And one that simply must be part of the discourse.

Though challenging for everyone to accept, it is already happening. Dublin underage county teams are already split on a regional basis for some underage development squads. In 2011 Dublin applied for provincial status in terms of its size and funding from the GAA.

Though an emotive topic, there will be a lot of very disappointed talented young players who will never go on to represent their county, with only 15 players starting from a population of 1.2 million. How viable that is in the long term? Many Dublin fans will quietly tell you that North and South Dublin teams would end up in the final anyway.

Back to the football

There are many shades of grey in this nuanced situation. This is the most skilful and dedicated team we have ever seen, yet we must question the future direction of the GAA also.

I recently attended a leadership course day where a current Dublin player spoke so eloquently about the need for competition structure review and other topics. You get the feeling Dublin players themselves would welcome some change in putting things on a more even keel. They would want these arguments put to bed. We can all go back to enjoying the football again.