When a win means there’s not much worth cheering

If Dublin win four-in-a-row today, they will do so because the dice are loaded financially in their favour

Jim Gavin, Dublin manager: there can be little doubt about the outcome of Sunday’s All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Tyrone Pic: INPHO

Back in 2002 and with rugby’s professionalism lurking and Ireland’s World Cup looming, there was a feeling that GAA in the capital was in trouble. Not everyone agreed: indeed some key names suggested help should come chained to the notion of the county being split, but the Dublin board chair John Bailey still went out with a revolutionary one-team idea and a begging bowl. Both the government, via Bertie Ahern, and the association ...