The 2023 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

Was he hell playing an experimental team. Dublin got relegated to Division 2 last year, got hammered in many games. Haven't played well this year to date. Dessie Farrell knows well he is hanging on by a thread to that management position - basically until someone more suitable to the job puts their hand up. He would be some idiot to suggest to himself (or his backroom team), "right lads, lets throw out an experimental team for this one. Let's live on the edge". There is a reason those players that you named aren't picked. Some have not shown form, some have not played for a while, and some are basically past it. Rock and Costello scored 42 points in the league between them. That works out on average 3 points each per game. In Division 2. And both of them were sharing free taking duties That is a poor return against lesser opposition. Costello was 10th in the listing of highest scorers in division 2. Again, that is very average - for someone was was relied on to come good in Paul Mannions absence. If they continue to play Cluxton, there is no room for Dean Rock anymore. He's not needed for the free/45s that are beyond 30 yards.

Rock and Costello wouldn't have started all 8 league games so their average would be a lot higher than that.

Biggest issue for Dublin is they don't seem to be bringing the players through as they did in the past. They reached U20 All Ireland finals in 2019,2020 with very few from those teams going on to be established senior players. Ciaran Archer was one I'd thought would be a cert but for whatever reason he hasn't

The last three Dublin U20 teams have lost Leinster finals so they'll do well to get many top senior players out of that batch either.

Not that but how many weeks between first game played in knockout and last

You can often get more players out of losing underage teams than winning one's. Most if the Kerry players from the Noughties never won an underage medal. Compare that to the 2014-2020 Kerry underage situation and the players have not being coming through as fast as you imagine they should have.

In general you are lucky if you pick up 2-3 players of any particular age group. A good players will have a career of 10+ years. Biggest issue is if a manager keeps older players on too long. Lads get fed up sitting on the bench

Anyone who has watched Rock knows he is only on the panel because of his frees, can't run anymore and has become a liability if started. I would still back him to come on and score a crucial free if Dublin needed it. The fact that the clueless Dessie has finally stopped starting him, when most fans knew he was well past his best as starter speaks volumes.

But I would like to to see the DCB create positions for these aging legends to bring on the next generations. Dean Rock should be Dublin's freetaking coach. The fella has an unbelievable technique. Other obvious one is Cluxton as the keeper coach. Should be no brainers.

One is probably the best in his position in the history of Gaelic Football (Cluxton). And the other is probably the best free taker Dublin ever had (Rock) and is in my opinion the best freetaker of his generation.

Amazed the DCB are not clued in. All that untapped reservoir of knowledge just there. Priceless IMO.

That would be similar to the 1975-77 U21 period that Kerry won three U21 titles.

Tim O Mahoney, Paudie O Se, Ger Power, Pat Spillane, Ogie Moran, Tim Kennelly, Jack O Shea, Mick Spillane, Sean Walsh, Charlie Nelligan, Tommy Doyle.

The 1973 team added Ger O keeffe and Micky Sheehy.

There was also a good few of those teams that were on the panel but the use of substitutes was not as prolific as now. Vincent O Connor and Tommy Doyle would have been the most noteable

Cracking under 20s match there Kildare v down , roy of the rovers stuff at the end.

Is there some sort of significance to them wearing black ?

Whelan should know what he is talking about because the Dublin team he played in, had similar problems for years.

@Fr Tod Umptious

Kerry top 6 scorers in the championship 2022 and the last one a defender. 

 Sean O'Shea 1-26 David Clifford 1-21 Paul Geaney 0-11 Killian Spillane 1-6 Paudie Clifford 0-8 Tom O'Sullivan 0-7

Last year showed you can win the All-Ireland by relying on two forwards getting a big portion of your scores while it was the defensive improvement under Jack O'Connor and his management that went a long way to winning back Sam for Kerry. 

Between league and championship last year Galway conceded big scores in games 1-20, 2-16 v Roscommon, 2-17 v Cork, 3-10 v Offaly, 3-18 v Armagh. Down the line that was going to hamper them.

This year in comparison in 9 games against Division 1 opposition they have conceded on average 12 points per game its clear like kerry the year before they have put a big focus on defensive improvement and it remains to be seen in the All-Ireland series will that improvement hold up as good defences do indeed wins championships. 

I'm a traditionalist, and I'm asking what rules allow Louth to change colours mid stream like that? There is no need to change to an alternate colour, Dublin wear light blue as far as I know, so no need to change (I know, there is a money grab/financial driver here, that's not what I mean by need ').

Take it to the extreme, why don't or what happens if they rocked up in blue jerseys? Wearing black would mean that the referee team now can't wear black, not a big problem at intercounty level but at club level it's more an issue.

AFAIK club teams have to submit and approve colours and alternate colours before the start of the year.

Just a cheap money grab if you ask me.

DCB probably couldn't afford him as free taking coach,have you seen his rates??

The All-Ireland draw this week seems to have distracted from the provincial finals. It was a bizarre decision to host the draw before the finals were complete.

I would agree with all football provincial finals on one weekend but the GAA seems to have other reasons. I think GAAGO are covering the majority of Saturday games.

Decent opening 10 minutes for Sligo but Galway have stepped up the gears since then with two goals with Comer the main creator and scored by Tierney. 30 minutes played 2-6 to 0-4