JONNY 5 IS ALIVE
Glory all that counts for Cooper who wants to set up Dubs drive for five
JONNY COOPER insists winning is all that matters to Dublin as they reach for history.
Only two counties have won four senior football All-irelands in a row – Wexford (1915-18) and Kerry (1929-32 & 1978-81), and now only Tyrone stand in Dublin’s way.
Never has a team won the All-ireland five years in a row, but victory would see Dublin lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the fifth time in six years, and for the sixth time in eight.
But, for some, the price of success has been a compromise in a swashbuckling style that was synomynous with Dublin through the ages, with much made of the drop off in attendances compared to other years.
For others, though, they are still the standard bearers for football as it should be played in this era of defensive tactics.
“I guess it’s two sides of the coin,” said Cooper. “We’re there to do what we need to do, I guess, and try win and perform.
“And then from a supporters point of view watching in, they want to see scores or attacking.
“I guess it’s that trade-off and that balance, to do what we see fit to get us the best result. That doesn’t always marry up to what somebody else might want to see.
“We’re there to try and perform and to win at the end of the day. So we do what we think is right for as long as that may take. I guess just winning is something that you want more and more of.”
Clearly, Gaelic football has changed and evolved from when Jim Gavin first took charge of the Dubs in late 2012.
In his first year in the hotseat, Dublin’s scintillating play propelled them to the All-ireland title, but the following year they were ambushed by Jim Mcguinness’ Donegal – who exploited the Dubs’ free-flowing game to brilliant effect.
The current patient, possession game Dublin have adopted has proved far too good for all-comers this year, with only Tyrone left to challenge it in the All-ireland decider.
Asked if people needed to accept that football has changed for good, Cooper replied: “I’m sure they’ll talk and they’ll change rules. But it’s kind of hard.
“Teams are going to play to their advantage and how they see it as the best way to with their players and their group of talents.
“Are you going to just kick it into one body against two or
We do what we think is right. I guess just winning is something you want more and more of..