Dublin would love a test before ‘Super 8s’ – Goggins

FORMER Dublin star Coman Goggins admits that the Leinster SFC is becoming a hard sell to the public due to the dominance of Jim Gavin’s side.

Even though Longford and Carlow caused shocks with wins over Meath and Kildare respectively, Dublin are 1/100 favourites to lift the Delaney Cup ahead of this Sunday’s Leinster semi-finals in Croke Park.

“Arguably a few weeks ago you’d have said the same, that even with Meath and Kildare still in it that Dublin were still going to come through in Leinster. The big surprise is that Carlow and Longford turned over the teams that are perceived to be the next big teams in the province.

“From a Leinster perspective, it’s not ideal because you are trying to sell games and get the public to attend matches and when Dublin are winning by 15 or 20 points, it’s hard for the public to engage in that.

“As a consequence then, Leinster is challenged around how do you keep people interested in Gaelic games across the summer when the matches aren’t as evenly dispersed as maybe the league games are. So without being disrespectful to the guys that are left in it, certainly the way Dublin are playing and the level they are playing at you would certainly expect them to come through in Leinster. And then the challenge is how ready they are for the ‘Super 8s’.”

After steamrolling Wicklow in their championship opener, Dublin are tipped to land into the ‘super 8s’ without a genuine challenge. And Goggins reckons Gavin would love to have a tough game under their belt before the last eight stage.

ENJOYMENT

“Even if you ask the players, no player goes out wanting to win a game by 20-25 points, you want to go out and get tested, you want to go out and find something deep within you that helps you win a game.

“So I’d say if you spoke to any of the guys that played against Wicklow they’d say, ‘Ah yeah, look, we won the game’ but there is no enjoyment in that for any guy who is playing.

“Particularly if you go on the road in the ‘Super 8s’, Kerry in Killarney, Monaghan in Clones or Mayo in Castlebar would be a big test of Dublin if you come through Leinster without having been asked questions. So they’d love to be tested I’m sure.”