Real sense that we are running on empty now
IF last weekend told us anything, it’s that people are voting with their feet.
For Dublin’s previous 10 All-ireland semi-finals, including the draw and replay with Mayo in 2015, they averaged a crowd of 82,000.
There were just over 54,000 there to watch them beat Galway on Saturday.
The following day, there were 5,000 fewer in attendance or Tyrone-monaghan. That has to be a serious worry for the GAA.
The product isn’t quite what it could be and the low turnout is partly as a result of the ‘Super 8s’. Tyrone and Monaghan were both playing their ninth Championship games this summer.
That’s a huge expense on families and the season ticket scheme doesn’t go far enough. There needs to be a loyalty scheme introduced and prices tweaked. The GAA is still predominantly family-oriented and they’re not going to be able to go to all these games if their county gets on a run.
A little over 100,000 combined at the games and Croke Park nearly half-empty is not what it should be about at this stage of the season.
I thought that Dublin would beat the pre-match six-point handicap with ease and they would have put a much bigger number on Galway only they took the foot off the pedal a bit.
The champions did move up a level on Saturday though.
Was it the same level as when they’ve been at their best in the previous three years? Probably not. But is that level good enough to win them another All-ireland? Absolutely.
And even if they stay where they are for the next few years, they’ll continue to rule because those behind them aren’t improving significantly. If anything, they’re regressing.
Take Galway. Are they in a better state now than they were after the League final?
I would say they’ve gone back as a squad since. Their energy levels were much better back in April and they were mentally stronger. Now, they look a bit shot and need to reassess just where they are.
It was an informative evening for Jim Gavin. He learned that Eoin Murchan is not quite up to it at this level just yet, but that Paul Mannion and Con O’callaghan are approaching their best form again.
The Dublin boss has a big decision to make ahead of the final, surrounding where he plays James Mccarthy. For me, they’re a weaker unit defensively when he plays at midfield.
Dublin scored 0-15 in the second half and their angles of running, support play, foot-passing and shot execution were all magnificent. That second half was their best since last year. Their average wides tally this year comes in at around six. Their economy is off the charts – I’ve never seen it before.
The third quarter set the tone and you’d have to wonder why so many of their opponents effectively stay in the dressingroom at half-time.
I don’t believe Galway got over the Monaghan defeat. Kevin Walsh will have learned a lot and it’s crucial he stays on and maybe adopts a different strategy next year.
Dublin aren’t without their weaknesses though. They conceded two goals to a Galway side that didn’t really show up – and it could have been more.
Mickey Harte will zone in on that, though Gavin will have ironed out a lot of creases come September 2.
But, by God, do we need a fresh and focused Mayo team next year to take the fight to Dublin.
They’re still the only ones that can put it up to them for 70-plus minutes.
That’s what I’ve learned above all else this summer.