Replying To Joxer:  "I'd agree with a lot of this. The lack of underage success within Dublin would suggest that the simple equation of money + population = success is completely false. This is evidenced by the lack of success for the hurlers also. Funding has been split evenly between football and hurling for over two decades in Dublin I believe. Dubs have favoured the big ball since the 70s successes and hence youths have gravitated towards that code. Cork have a bigger pooulation, more clubs and more money than most hurling counties yet Liam has evaded them. Why? I think bearing these factors in mind, Dublin's lack of success at underage, Kerry's overachievements at underage and there may be a changing of the guard shortly. Dublin's current success is very much hinged on a golden generation of very talented footballers, grounded by a very shrewd coaching panel and management team. Contrary to the belief of some flat earthers in the media, a certain Kildare man comes to mind, Dublin will not dominate for eternity, on a wave of endless investment and a population the size of China. I do expect them to be competitive though but then again they always have been, just like Kerry."

Replying To Liamwalkinstown:  "Ewan McKenna I am sure most of you have seen/heard this lads "opinions" by now i am not getting into it here, we all know what he says and the counter arguments etc What I would like to know is, especially from the non Dubs on here, where do ye stand on this? Most people not involved in GAA seem to think McKenna is right, its a fix, Dubs are false champions etc etc Would be interested in what ye think lads. I think most people on here would be involved in one way or another in GAA so your opinon's would carry more weight than the summer crew if you get me. Do many of you think he is right, do many of you see Dublin's success as false, tarnished and bought? Sound. LW"

Replying To tearintom:  "Lack of underage success and lack of success in hurling???

Since 2004 in underage football there have been 4 x u21 football all Ireland's and 8 x u21 Leinster winners, 1 x minor all Ireland and 4 x Leinster minor titles. It's been a domination in Leinster at u21 up until this year. We have seen Dublin minor teams being unsuccessful and same team utterly dominant at u21.

Hurling has seen a remarkable rise since 2004 in Dublin. Hadnt won a Leinster since 1961 until 2013, in fact had only made 3 appearances in a Leinster final between 1961 and 2004 in total, 4 appearances since 2004 which is more than there had been in over 30 years.

Hurling league win in 2001, first since 1939

Underage hurling has seen a big improvement, 4 x Leinster u21 titles since 2004 with the last one before that being in 1972, 5 x Leinster minors since 2004 with the last one before that being 1983.

Yep been lean times alright!

In many ways bearing in mind where the hurlers were coming from and the fact football is the dominant sport their rise has been as impressive as the footballers."

Replying To kildare73:  ""Croatia nearly won the world cup this year" is the same as saying Tyrone nearly won the All Ireland. Bottom line is neither one did win either competition so its a lazy line to throw up. Of course some other team will end up in a final, are you saying the height of everyone else's ambitions now is to be "the other team" and accept that that's our lot?"

Replying To Liamwalkinstown:  "Ewan McKenna I am sure most of you have seen/heard this lads "opinions" by now i am not getting into it here, we all know what he says and the counter arguments etc What I would like to know is, especially from the non Dubs on here, where do ye stand on this? Most people not involved in GAA seem to think McKenna is right, its a fix, Dubs are false champions etc etc Would be interested in what ye think lads. I think most people on here would be involved in one way or another in GAA so your opinon's would carry more weight than the summer crew if you get me. Do many of you think he is right, do many of you see Dublin's success as false, tarnished and bought? Sound. LW"

Replying To Joxer:  "I'd agree with a lot of this. The lack of underage success within Dublin would suggest that the simple equation of money + population = success is completely false. This is evidenced by the lack of success for the hurlers also. Funding has been split evenly between football and hurling for over two decades in Dublin I believe. Dubs have favoured the big ball since the 70s successes and hence youths have gravitated towards that code. Cork have a bigger pooulation, more clubs and more money than most hurling counties yet Liam has evaded them. Why? I think bearing these factors in mind, Dublin's lack of success at underage, Kerry's overachievements at underage and there may be a changing of the guard shortly. Dublin's current success is very much hinged on a golden generation of very talented footballers, grounded by a very shrewd coaching panel and management team. Contrary to the belief of some flat earthers in the media, a certain Kildare man comes to mind, Dublin will not dominate for eternity, on a wave of endless investment and a population the size of China. I do expect them to be competitive though but then again they always have been, just like Kerry."

Replying To legendzxix:  "Croatia have professional footballers. Dublin have the provincial funding to put into coaches and sports science etc. They have little travel expenses and are given a stadium unlike Offaly."

Replying To Donegalman:  "Volunteers on the ground is also part of the equation

I disagree with your assessment of the underage lack of success in Dublin. 4/8 u21 all Ireland's is worth a decade of senior success. Also, Dublin hurlers did improve from a very mediocre setup to a highly competitive team who also won national silverware."

Replying To Joxer:  "4 U21 AIs and 1 minor title n 15 years is not dominance. Kerry have 5 minors alone in 5 years. Dublin haven't even contested a minor final in 6 years while Kerry have won 5 on the spin. The U21 winnng generation are now in the senior team, those that made the grade. Before 2010 Dublin hadn't contested a U21 final for 8 years. Again where is this dominance? I wasn't referring to hurling when bringing up underage success but if we look at the seniors in Leinster they have contested 4 Leinster fnals since 91 and during an era where traditional hurlng counties like Offaly and Wexford have been on their knees. With Galway in almost all finals since 2010, Wexford on the rise and Kilkenny recycling as they do, the BOK cup is as far out of reach as ever for Dublin."

Replying To tearintom:  "But you never mentioned dominance.

You cited a lack of underage success and a lack of success for the hurlers when in reality that's not the case at all.

Lean times since 1991 for the likes of Offaly and Wexford???

Bearing in mind where the hurlers have come from it's been the most successful time in their history in reality both underage and senior and guess what the same applies in football both at senior and underage level.

In reality in both codes looking at Leinster and all Ireland success at underage and senior Dublin are current,y going through the most successful period in their history apart from arguably the 1920's"

Replying To Joxer:  "It's those u21 titles since 2010 that has lead to the current senior success but we're way behind at minor so the U20/21 run is about to halt. So phrases like "Dublin's dominance" may be true for the senior footballers but that grade only and even that is dependent upon talent at underage and that's waning at present. Kerry are the dominant force at underage in football but you want here much talk of that because they're not Dublin so it's ok."

Replying To Furlong1949:  "Thanks Geniusgerry.

Yes there is criticism of kilkenny and kerry but it is mild and less severe compared to the criticism of other counties. People accept the greatness of kerry and kilkenny teams easier then other teams. Kerry and kilkenny deserve praise for all their extraordinary great players and great teams. But anything outside the norm in GAA in sucess is heavily criticised.

Was a kilkenny team or kerry ever criticised by GAA president after All Ireland final ?, was kerry or kilkenny teams ever described as playing puke hurling or puke football or called as destroying gaelic football or hurling. When kilkenny or kerry won a massive match in Croker were there calls ever into liveline to Joe Duffy the next day?. This is a different level of criticism. Tyrone Meath Donegal now Dublin footballers, Clare and Galway hurlers have faced. Kerry and Kilkenny havr faced criticised but is not as extreme or as severe as other counties. People accept the greatness of kilkenny hurling and kerry hurling. Of course you have people in Tipp criticising kilkeeny or some say kerry have an easy run to the finals. ( Something I dont agree with). But again its mild compared to the onslaught other counties face.

When Clare hurlers won in 95 it was welcome. By 97 the criticism was extreme and Clare were hated in GAA traditional hurling counties. When Galway won in 1980 it was welcome. By 1988 Galway hurlers were heavily criticised. The 1989 hurling semi final with Tipperary is the tensest roughest match I ever saw in Croker in hurling. After the match a Tipp fan ran on the field and screamed into Cyril Farrells face " I hate u Farrell.". That was the widespread feeling in hurling traditional counties at the time, that feeling of hatred towards Galway 87 88.

Look at limerick already people are criticising JP McManus. If limerick win 2 or 3 more All Irelands in next 5 or 6 years this criticism will reach fever pitch.

If Waterford win hurling title. It will be welcome. But if they win 2 or 3 they will be heavily criticised. Already McGrath gets serious criticism for sweeper system .

If Mayo win Sam. It will be welcome. But if they win 2 or 3 it will be criticised. Anything new or unprecedented outside the norm in terms of sucess in GAA is heavily criticised.

It not just GAA. look at soccer. Who was the most criticised and hated sucessful team in soccer in last 50 years, the most criticised. That was leeds Utd in 70s. The only team to win league titles outside the big 4 cities of london liverpool Manchester and Birmingham. lecister won a league it was welcome as it was a win for underdog and seen as a one off. If they were to win 2 or 3 leagues watch the criticism grow. Forests sucess was seen down to genius of Clough. The only other teams outside the big 4 cities were Blackburn and Leeds. Blackburn were accused of buying the league. But leeds who had the most consistent sucess, outside big 4 cities and the clubs in those cities, were the most criticised team and hated team in last 50 years in English soccer. So even it is an element that occurs even in professional sports. It just something I have noticed throughout the years."

Replying To Joxer:  "Leinster is no benchmark of success. What is the standard of Leinster football at present? What would Leinster hurling be like without Galway? Dublin have been charged with dominating football on the back of "unfair advantages" that have been afforded to them in the form of money, home advantage and player pick (nothing Dublin can do about that). The charge within the media is that these "unfair advantages" will lead to a conveyor belt of talent and a neverending string of AIs. This simply is not borne out when you look at their minor performances of late. Where is all of this all conquering talent going to emerge from, Jim Gavin's star player tree in his back garden? This Dublin team is weaker than 4-5 years ago when Connolly, Flynn, Brogan were at the height of their powers. Some key retirements are on the cards now also and while a couple of decent players have been introduced in the past two years there is no conveyor belt on the horizon. So I think the media prophets of football doom can wind their necks in for a while."

Replying To tearintom:  "Only through success and trophies can you bring players through?

So Leinster is no benchmark, yet in 2011 Dublin minors win Leinster but lose in all Ireland final to Tipperary, yet that minor team winning Leinster and it not being a benchmark ended up with Ciaran Kilkenny, jack mc Caffrey, Eric lowndes, Paul Mannion, Cormac Costello, John small and Paul Mannion com8ng through to senior.

Have continued to have successful teams pulling maybe 2 or 3 from u21/minor teams into senior as required over the past few years.

I don't think there's a whole lot of concern in regards to what's coming through for Dublin in reality. Despite 5 minor titles for kerry they had only one Munster u21 up until this year.

The fact is yes Dublin have been successful underage and in hurling."

Replying To Joxer:  "Well yes that's my point isn't it. Dublin had minor success in 2012 7 years ago and it spawned players for the current "golden generation" like Niall Scully, Costello, Lowndes, all in their mid 20s now. Dublin haven't contested a minor final since. Elements of the media are predicting an end to the sport and an eternity of Dublin dominance in senior football. This is all down to money, pooulation and home advantage if you are to believe some doomsday merchants, like a certain commentator from Kildare who would appear to have his own agenda. Where is the evidence to back this up? Is it because Dublin have won 4 U21 titles in the last 15 years or is it because Dublin have won 2 minor titles in 15 years?"

Replying To Joxer:  "Well yes that's my point isn't it. Dublin had minor success in 2012 7 years ago and it spawned players for the current "golden generation" like Niall Scully, Costello, Lowndes, all in their mid 20s now. Dublin haven't contested a minor final since. Elements of the media are predicting an end to the sport and an eternity of Dublin dominance in senior football. This is all down to money, pooulation and home advantage if you are to believe some doomsday merchants, like a certain commentator from Kildare who would appear to have his own agenda. Where is the evidence to back this up? Is it because Dublin have won 4 U21 titles in the last 15 years or is it because Dublin have won 2 minor titles in 15 years?"

Replying To Joxer:  "Well yes that's my point isn't it. Dublin had minor success in 2012 7 years ago and it spawned players for the current "golden generation" like Niall Scully, Costello, Lowndes, all in their mid 20s now. Dublin haven't contested a minor final since. Elements of the media are predicting an end to the sport and an eternity of Dublin dominance in senior football. This is all down to money, pooulation and home advantage if you are to believe some doomsday merchants, like a certain commentator from Kildare who would appear to have his own agenda. Where is the evidence to back this up? Is it because Dublin have won 4 U21 titles in the last 15 years or is it because Dublin have won 2 minor titles in 15 years?"

Replying To Joxer:  "Well yes that's my point isn't it. Dublin had minor success in 2012 7 years ago and it spawned players for the current "golden generation" like Niall Scully, Costello, Lowndes, all in their mid 20s now. Dublin haven't contested a minor final since. Elements of the media are predicting an end to the sport and an eternity of Dublin dominance in senior football. This is all down to money, pooulation and home advantage if you are to believe some doomsday merchants, like a certain commentator from Kildare who would appear to have his own agenda. Where is the evidence to back this up? Is it because Dublin have won 4 U21 titles in the last 15 years or is it because Dublin have won 2 minor titles in 15 years?"

Replying To Donegalman:  "4 out of 8 actually. U21 is where it is at. If Kerry minors don't transition to u20 then they will struggle at senior level, bar the exceptional players like Clifford. U21 was always a gateway for Donegal to do well, never minors. I would agree that some analysts are playing favorites with stats but it still doesn't disguise the fact of 4 all Ireland u21 titles in the 2010 period until now. U21 is massively more important than minors for success at senior level"