GAELIC GAMES:THERE IS A new rule in Gaelic games which states that to win an All-Ireland final you must lose one the year before. The Tipperary hurlers proposed it. The Cork footballers seconded it. The Dublin women's footballers have approved it, unanimously.

Three times within the previous seven years they came to Croke Park on the last Sunday in September and lost every time – none more crushing than last year’s one-point heart-breaker of a final loss to Cork. Having done all the hard work in getting back to the final, Dublin were not about to let this one slip. They played like a team as mad as hell, and were not going to take defeat anymore.

They imposed themselves on Tyrone from the opening few minutes, and never let up. In fact Dublin effectively won it in the first half, and were thus able to count down the second 30 minutes along with the stadium clock. As a game it was surprisingly one-sided; but Dublin couldn’t care less.

Indeed their 16-point winning margin – 3-16 to 0-9 – was absolutely reflective of their dominance, and they could have won by even more. The significance of their victory – a first senior women’s All-Ireland title for Dublin, a first senior title for Dublin of any sort in 15 years – was reflected too in the outburst of emotion from the players, many of whom had thought long and hard about playing on, such was their despair after last year’s defeat.

“We decided if we were coming back we’d give it everything,” said Denise Masterson, the Dublin captain, and one of six Dublin players who have passed the big three-o, yet remained fully committed to the cause.

“That was the goal, to let last year drive us on, and literally all these girls have put their lives on hold, to get ourselves right. And that stood to us. From the first ball, everything just clicked. But that’s how focused we were. Composed, and calm. We just knew if everyone stuck to their job we’d be very strong.”

Gerry McGill, the Donegal man who has put his heart and soul into getting the best out of women’s football in Dublin over the past two years, also acknowledged last year’s defeat was the platform for this year’s victory.

“We said after last year, made the decision, that we were never ever going to feel like that again,” he said. “It was the last time this bunch of players were going to feel that way.

“In order to achieve that we had to go over and beyond everything we’d done last year. And we thought we’d prepared very well for last year. But we’d to go even further. And that meant everyone toeing the line, and I can safely saw we’ve done that. Defeat was not an option.”

The only pity was that there weren’t a few more Dublin supporters on show. The attendance of 21,750 – slightly up on last year’s showdown between Dublin and Cork – was along expected lines, but it seemed like more Tyrone supporters had made the long trip than those making the short trip.

Sinéad Aherne was unstoppable at full forward, hitting two goals and seven points, and others like Amy McGuinness, Lyndsey Davey and Elaine Kelly put on a football show that Tyrone could do nothing about. Again, the motivation of last year was running thick and fast in the Dublin players.

“It did take us a long time to get over last year,” said Aherne, “but we’ve got fantastic leaders on the team. And no one believed we couldn’t get back. It’s been a tough journey, but we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. So many people have put so much into getting us here. It being Tyrone’s first year as well we did have more experience. We hit the ground running as well, and after what happened last year, we weren’t going to let that slip.

And hitting 2-7 in an All-Ireland final?

“Well that comes down to the whole performance of the team,” said Aherne. “They made it easy. There was space up there, players moving off the ball, and once we got quick ball in we were ready to take them on.”

It was perhaps the most convincing women’s All-Ireland final win in recent years, and again McGill put that down to the lessons of last year.

The only consolation for Tyrone is that if that new rule is adhered to, then their time will come next year.

Obviously, Niall Colton, Tyrone joint manager, didn’t take much comfort in that thought just yet.

“Swallow me up,” he said, looking to the ground. “Sure we were beaten in every sector of the field, really. We were completely outplayed. Everywhere.

“We knew nerves would play some part, the first 10 or 15 minutes. But we felt if we could stay with Dublin we’d have something to work on. But it didn’t happen. Dublin got ahead and then got the first goal. And that knocked the stuffing out of us really.”

That’s twice this summer Dublin footballers have knocked the stuffing out of Tyrone footballers. Things must be looking up in the capital.