Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Youth is vital to reeling in champs
HOW the break in momentum caused by the long-term enforced stoppage of Gaelic games by Covid-19 affects our inter-county teams will be fascinating to keep tabs on.
The million dollar question is how it will affect the best team in the country, the Dubs?
Momentum is everything when you’re winning and right now, as All-ireland champions, they are the most vulnerable.
Some people might be surprised by that but there is a strong argument to suggest that this enforced shutdown could bring Dublin back to the rest of the pack – giving their rivals like Kerry, Tyrone, Donegal, Galway and Mayo ample opportunity to really assess where they need to improve.
When Gaelic football returns, the balance at the top of the game could change and we could be looking at a more level playing field between the top five or six teams.
There are a number of reasons why this might happen.
Under new management and having achieved immortality last year, the champions are still good enough to win the All-ireland every year.
Yet it is unrealistic to keep going forever and, when your momentum is broken, it brings you back to square one.
A number of Dublin’s brilliant leaders are getting closer and closer to their last days in the blue jersey. A year out is a long time when you’re the wrong side of 30 – no matter who you are.
The likes of Alan Brogan, Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn and Denis Bastick have all retired at
Donegal Galway Kerry