Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Red Hands need forward thinking but the Dub dominance will go on
THEY’VE won four-in-arow and they may well make it five, but Dublin already have one landmark achievement all to themselves.
They are the first county to win six All-irelands in a single decade, with a year still to go in this one.
The football they have played since 2011, combining skill, power, pace and conditioning has been phenomenal.
But it’s their attitude that stands apart more than anything. That sheer, raw ambition to succeed year after year despite already having a stack of success behind them.
Any manager will tell you that success brings its own problems but Jim Gavin has managed that brilliantly. Everyone must dance to the same tune and if you don’t like it, you know where the door is.
Diarmuid Connolly being in America while they won the four-in-a-row is testament to that.
The culture is the single biggest thing that has changed with Dublin and it’s on a different planet to everyone else. It may be too severe or ruthless for some but, as Declan Darcy said this week, they don’t do sentiment.
Again, the handling of Bernard Brogan spoke volumes in that regard. It’s extraordinary that nine of the starting team last Sunday was aged 25 or under.
Mickey Harte and Tyrone did exceptionally well to get to a final but they met an unstoppable force and, to be brutally honest, a six-point beating flattered them.
Harte said afterwards: “We have to go and do what is required to make it possible”. Let’s see if they can.
He was annoyed at the observation that they lack “marquee” forwards. I won’t use that word but if he wants to bring Tyrone to the very top, he must unearth forwards that can win their own ball and score.
They just don’t carry enough threat up front to win an All-ireland.
Compare it to what they’re up against. Dublin had just six wides last Sunday and none in the second half at all. Tyrone had 16.
After a good start against Monaghan in the semi-final, they dropped seven efforts short and kicked another five wides in the 20 minutes coming into half-time.
In big games they tighten up and are unable to get the clutch scores. They need a couple of backs and a midfielder too.
I found the employment of Colm Cavanagh last Sunday a little bizarre. It just wasn’t the way to play that Dublin midfield and weakened Tyrone’s hand considerably.
Jack Mccaffrey is Dublin’s smiling assassin. He’s a machine that destroys opposition defences and Tyrone were just the latest team that couldn’t live with him. On Monday he commented, “When we cross the white line, we’ll kill you.” He means it too.
If you want to ruffle Dublin physically up, then fine. They’ll play it that way and beat you at the football too while they’re at it.
Dean Rock got a point in the first half that came at the end of a move that stretched to 15 passes and over 60 seconds. It was a stunning score that typified much of what Dublin are good at.
So, where’s it going to stop? Kerry picked up yet another minor title on Sunday and they’ll surely come through eventually and win senior All-irelands.
But not just yet as, for me, they’re too far behind in their physical conditioning.
Dublin will win the fivein-row and maybe one or two after it. I wouldn’t be surprised if them and Kerry carve up the next 10 between them.
For everyone else, it’s slim pickings.