Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DUFF AT THE TOP
Hero Kieran reckons Dubs are ‘by no means a shoo-in’ this summer
KIERAN DUFF could never have imagined Dublin dominance like this.
Over the 13 years he played for the county there was just one Allireland – and even that came at considerable personal cost – and when he returned years later as a selector they were in the midst of an cycle where they couldn’t even get to a final.
Duff’s life and career will be profiled in the new series of TG4’S Laochra Gael which got underway this week, and the stigma that went with the 1983 All-ireland final still lingers.
The Fingallians man was sent off for an alleged kick, one of three Dublin players to get the line, though they still held out to beat Galway’s 14 men. He was issued with a 12-month suspension which was eventually reduced on appeal.
“For the next few years I could not get a free from a referee and if I so much as pulled a fella’s jersey I got carded,” he says. “In the 1984 final, Tommy Doyle, the Kerry wing-back, was only short of putting a saddle on my back. I swear to God, he just stopped me playing and he got away with it.
“I work in North County Dublin where there would be a lot of Meath people and the stick and abuse you would be getting. Now, I can take it but it was harder on the family and on my missus.”
There were no more All-irelands for him though and there was just one more between 1983 and 2011, when the current era of unprecedented dominance started.
“When we were involved with Pillar [Paul Caffrey] from ‘05 to ‘08, we were in an era when there was a good Kerry team and a good Tyrone team.
“They beat us in quarter-finals in ‘05 and ‘08; Kerry beat us in ‘07 and Mayo [2006] was probably the one we let slip.
“At that time, we were that much short at making an All-ireland final. Maybe we were short one or two classy players, serious footballers like a Bernard Brogan or Paul Flynn in their prime.
“But those guys started out that time, they came into the panel around 2007/08. Then Pat Gilroy took over but even allowing for that, you could never foresee this happening. No way could you.”
It could turn out to be nothing in the scheme of things, but Dublin have been rocked slightly so far in 2019, losing two of their first three League games as they eye five-ina-row with Mayo, arguably their greatest modern rivals, coming to Croke Park this evening.
“Everything is going to be hyped about Dublin this year,” Duff said. “You go back to 2016 [final v Mayo], the first half Dublin were poor with both of their goals own goals and they were five points up at half-time having only scored four. When did you ever see a Dublin team that bad? And that was when guys were in their prime, maybe 24, 25 , 26 years of age.
“Move on three years and those guys could have a bad day in a semi-final or in a last eight game.
“We have not lost too many players with injuries over the last couple of years so these are all things that could happen come happen the Super 8s, the semi-final or final.
“These all things that could happen, loss of form, bad decision by a referee, whatever and it can cost you.
“Dublin are by no means a shooin for this All-ireland.”