'It has been shockingly difficult' | Mick Bohan on leaving Dublin players at home

Dublin manager Mick Bohan spoke to OTB Sports about the difficulty of leaving players and staff at home after Dublin’s tight victory over Armagh on Saturday.

The Dubs marched on to yet another All-Ireland final after beating Armagh 3-13 to 3-08 in Cavan.

Despite the win, Bohan was more concerned with the fact that he had to tell players and support staff that they could not attend the match.

“[It is] very eery,” Bohan said. “It is not the same enjoyment levels, but we are also aware of the fact that there are people watching it who are getting enjoyment out of it.

“That has probably been a focus for us to try and push our own standards, to try and create some sort of entertainment for those people who are staying at home.

“I haven’t enjoyed the week of the games coming in, knowing I have to [tell people they have to stay at home].

“We have changed personnel to try and give some people access, whether it is from the point of view of the squad or the management team.

“They know that somebody has to stay at home, but no matter what you say, in whatever way you dress it up, you are ultimately telling somebody that somebody else is more valued than them.

“That has been shocking[ly] difficult.”

Carla Rowe of Dublin scores her side's third goal, from a penalty, during the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final match between Armagh and Dublin at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The Dublin manager suggested that there is space and an ability to have the people that are left at home in the stadium for match days.

“You come to the stadium and you look, and you see all the empty spaces.

“You are not asking for these people to go into a changing room; they are involved with us in the three occasions during the week.

“So, you are there saying, ‘how is it any different on the Sunday?’

“It doesn’t change on the match day, everybody has driven here on their own, nobody is getting back in cars with each other.

“I just don’t understand it, and it has caused so much anguish.”

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