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Football

"There is no question" | Sunday Paper Review on inevitable Dublin split

Reaching their eighth All-Ireland final in 10 years, and aiming to lift Sam Maguire for the sixth...



Football

"There is no question" | Sunday Paper Review on inevitable Dublin split

Reaching their eighth All-Ireland final in 10 years, and aiming to lift Sam Maguire for the sixth consecutive year, Dublin have again become the source of debate rather than celebration due to their performances on the pitch.

While many in Dublin are simply delighted with their team's success, existential questions and debates over funding are more common when the rest of the country discuss the Boys in Blue.

Naturally, after a comfortable 15 point win in the semi-final against Cavan, the dominance of Dessie Farrell's team was high on the agenda for this week's Sunday Paper Review with Colm Keys and Matt Williams.

Referencing the win at Croke Park yesterday, Keys pointed to the success Dublin are having at underage too as a worrying sign that the dominance will continue beyond just this team.

"Between u20 and u21 level, they are going for a fifth title in 11 years, so the backup to all of this is incredible too," Keys explained.

"It does lead to a fundamental question as to a capital city, 1.4 million people represented by one team. Of course, it's a question.

"And, while it's the most unpalatable option in the long run [to split Dublin], I think ultimately it's a decision the GAA will have to make down the line. There is no question."

Noting that the integration of country people into Dublin clubs has been a great success story for the capital and its strength, Keys detailed his belief that Dublin should be split at underage level first.

"I do think the first steps are to split them at underage level and see where that takes us.

"Again I'd stress unpalatable. And notwithstanding the fact that, to me, in Fenton and Kilkenny you have arguably the greatest pairing ever to run a football team in the game."

While they may prove to be once in a lifetime players, Dublin still have talent ready to come through in most positions.

"If we're having this conversation again in five years' time and nothing has been done then the problem will be doubled or even trebled because the light is going out in a lot of counties.

"As teams catch up they just find that Dublin are getting further away."

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All-irelands Football Championship Dublin GAA The Sunday Papers