Dublin GAA Discussion Thread: Mod Note - No 'Dublin Dominance' chat allowed!

Big win for Na Fianna today against Naas. Into the Leinster hurling final where they'll be meeting Kilkenny's finest, O Loughlin Gaels. Hopefully they can get over the line and go a step further than Kilmacud who had Ballyhale Shamrocks on the ropes late in last years final but came up a little short. That's six Leinster finals in last nine years (Cuala only winners on two occassions). Not a bad return.

Be great to get him back. A very bad hamstring tear doesn't want to take any chances and damage it further.

Should be a tight final. Watched O Loughlin Gaels game last night. Look a nice team. Were well on top first half could have had game out of sight. Had a couple goal chances they spurned but any team with three Kilkenny seniors in their backline are going to be hard to beat. I think Na Fianna will do it.

I was hoping he might make the Leinster final. Not likely now and his match fitness would be miles off anyway. So a possible All Ireland semi final may well be the target.

Ah part of me would have loved if Fitzsimons got it for the simple reason to wind up the Kerry lads.

It's a double showing on RTE2.

Devestating loss for Na Fianna. Looked like they might go on and win it a couple of times in second half. Could never seem to go three points ahead but some great performances all over the field. I thought they'd do it beforehand. They are a serious team and with Donal Burke who knows what may have been. Paddy Deegan was immense for the cats. O Loughlins will know they were in a game. Really could have gone either way. There's some good hurlers in Dublin going forward.

They haven't won it yet.

https://m.sundayworld.com/sport/gaa/james-mccarthy-confirms-hes-staying-on-with-dublin-in-2024/a58702823.html

Evan was definitely better than O'Hanlon. Thought his movement out the pitch was to show a difference to Cluxton. Does anyone know if Cluxton staying for another year?

Having a gawk at the hurling panel list for that Westmeath game on the Dublin site.

Fellas who started:

Ronan Smith - Defender - Lucan

Conor Donohoe - Defender - Erin's Isle

Sean Gallagher - Defender - N Barrog (not sure if he was on panel already? A fair few Barrog lads on the panel now since last year)

Brian Hayes - Defender - K Crokes

Ciarán Foley - Forward - Naomh Olaf

--

Seems like a load of new defenders being tried. No sign of a forward (who we have to hope is not a handy footballer so won't jump codes.

There was a large turnover of players last year in fairness, but again no scoring forward to get really excited about.

My expectation for the hurlers this year is I would be happy with doing 'OK' let a team bed in get settled. Be a bit harder to beat someway, as Dublin struggle on the scoreboard (barring frees). Disappointing performances last year.

The goal for the hurlers each year is to win Leinster and anything else is a bonus.

No harm in being ambitious anyway whatever about achieving it.

What are the realistic footballers aims this season ? Stay in div1. Try and make the Semi-Finals of the AI, and get 4-5 new players introduced. Off the top of my head I think what Dublin really need a young speed merchant - the Dart from Clontarf is very injury prone. A fella with loads of pace even as a sub is always good to have. And a fella to compete in midfield (Dublin have been very lucky that Fenton does not get injured. Plus a Rock 3.0? Would be lovely.

As for Dessie Farrell I suppose he can do what he likes at this stage, after all the giving out I did about him up until the QF he tricked me by changing his team selection. And me thinking he does not look like he knows what he is at at all, maybe that was part of the plan? 🤣

Last years win was really against the grain which made it all the nicer. I think the very weak Leinster suits this old squad (I suppose Kerry had that unfair advantage of a weak province for generations before Dublin), when teams only have to 'peak' later makes it seem like worse than challenge match level early on. I am amazed that the GAA keep the provincials to be honest, I think the truth is they don't know what to do with them. Ulster will say no anyway. I suppose that is for another thread.

Agree about the goal being another AI. Leinster is a farce so that can be discounted. They will cakewalk that. The worry every year is that there not battle hardened when the Leinster championship is done.