Gaelic Games

The (almost) total domination by Leinster and Munster of Sam Maguire

Well, by Leinster and Munster, we really mean Dublin and Kerry of course

More counties have claimed the Sam Maguire Cup from Ulster (six) than Munster (four). However, Kerry isn’t in Ulster (breaking news!) and the Kingdom rules when it comes to the All-Ireland senior football championship (this may come as a surprise to some considering Kerry were nowhere to be seen yesterday). The Munster giants of football have 36 All-Ireland senior football titles, which gives Munster the edge over Leinster (49 wins to 45), with Dublin leading the challenge at 23. Far, far behind in third place is Galway with nine titles. Mayo, of course, are stuck on three for a while now.
More counties have claimed the Sam Maguire Cup from Ulster (six) than Munster (four). However, Kerry isn’t in Ulster (breaking news!) and the Kingdom rules when it comes to the All-Ireland senior football championship (this may come as a surprise to some considering Kerry were nowhere to be seen yesterday). The Munster giants of football have 36 All-Ireland senior football titles, which gives Munster the edge over Leinster (49 wins to 45), with Dublin leading the challenge at 23. Far, far behind in third place is Galway with nine titles. Mayo, of course, are stuck on three for a while now.
Mon Sept 23 2013 - 15:04



AGAINST THE ODDS

Too late now, but Dublin to win by one point8/1
Also, Dublin to win by one point and Stephen Cluxton to score the winning point was . . . 66/1! But did he? Can it be considered a winning point if Mayo score twice after it? We're not sure, but we hope so for the punters that had it.

2013 SFC TOP SCORERS

1 Cillian O'Connor (Mayo) 6-22 (40)
2 Martin Dunne (Cavan) 1-33 (36)
3 Mickey Newman (Meath) 1-27 (30)
– Daniel Goulding (Cork) 1-27 (30)
5 Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone) 0-29 (29)
6 Darren McCurry (Tyrone) 0-28 (28)
– Michael Meehan (Galway) 2-22 (28)
8 Colm Cooper (Kerry) 1-23 (26)
9 Seán McCormack (Longford) 0-24 (24)
– Lorcan Mulvey (London) 2-18 (24)
– Colm McFadden (Donegal) 2-18 (24)


ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Croke Park is not really a "home" stadium for Dublin, however, there's no doubt playing there is worth a few points for any team from the capital (perhaps an exception is on All-Ireland final day).

We took the main stadium in Mayo (MacHale Park, Castlebar) and Dublin (Croke Park) as a base to measure the distance a supporter would have had to travel to support their county in this season’s senior football championship. (ie MacHale Park to Pearse Stadium in Galway is an 160km round trip. The two matches Mayo played at MacHale Park count as zero).


Mayo on the road
v Galway Pearse Stadium
v Roscommon MacHale Park
v London MacHale Park
v Donegal Croke Park
v Tyrone Croke Park
v Dublin Croke Park
Total distance 1,696km


Dublin (not) on the road
v Westmeath Croke Park
v Kildare Croke Park
v Meath Croke Park
v Cork Croke Park
v Kerry Croke Park
v Mayo Croke Park
Total distance 0km

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Mayo, however, have not put up the most miles on the road this summer.

That honour – unless you want to start counting trips such as Leitrim’s to New York – is held by the Tyrone senior football team (and their supporters).

Though we also do know of someone who travelled home from Wellington, New Zealand for yesterday’s final.

So they win, really, by completing a flight distance of roughly 37,000km.


Tyrone on the road
v Donegal Ballybofey
Tyrone v Offaly Tullamore
v Roscommon Dr Hyde Park
v Kildare Newbridge
v Meath Croke Park
v Monaghan Croke Park
v Mayo Croke Park
Total distance 2,406km

TWITTER ABUSE

Sad to see that one of Dublin football’s former stars was, apparently, the victim of some racial abuse on Twitter at the weekend.

A tweet was sent to Jason Sherlock (@boomjayo) which said: “@boomjayo yes I did indeed! Sherlock you NaFianna reject.. Back to Asia with you, you dont belong here”

It showed the best and worst of Twitter – with the tweet launching a thousand replies in support of Sherlock, who himself said: “Thanks for all your positive tweets, for too long I was the victim of racial abuse, but not anymore, great to see many others feel the same. The guy who tweeted it is ignorant, but that doesn’t allow him to be racist, I hope he and his buddies might learn from this situation.”

Na Fianna GAA club have said they are aware of the alleged racist comments, an investigation is underway, with "action to follow".


FINAL HURDLES

Every pre-match discussion of yesterday's decider noted Mayo's awful record in All-Ireland senior football deciders – before yesterday losing the previous six finals.

However, Mayo now only share the record for consecutive senior final defeats. Cork have already lost seven senior football All-Ireland finals in succession – starting with the 1891 championship and ending with the 1907 final.

Six of the defeats were to Dublin (no wonder Cork hate losing to the Capital so much).

The other loss was to Wexford in the 1893 final.


GAME-TIME

Players used by Mayo during 2013 Championship 26
Players used by Dublin during 2013 Championship 24


TWITTER TWADDLE

RTÉRadio1 @RTERadio1
Hairs would stand on the back of your neck as 82,300 sing Amhrán na bhFiann in Croke Park for the 2013 All-Ireland Final. #GAA

Emmett J Scanlan @EmmettScanlan
Today is either going to be a great day of sport..... Or one best forgotten.... #Dublin #ManUtd

Joe Sheridan @Squarecut84
A lot of boys looking very tired and loose so far, some bad wides hopefully things tighten up in 2nd half! #AllIreland

Conal Keaney @ConalKeaney
Very strange first half. Have a feeling with the pace and bench Dublin have ,it will Dublin's day. Mayo very wasteful #DubsForSam


Gav Duffy @gavduffy15
As excited as this little kid was 24 years ago to watch Mayo in Croke Park on All Ireland final day! COME ON MAYO!

Shane Long @Shanelong009
Only 1 point in it at half time, mayo should be out of sight! And Dublin havnt even got going yet, mayo might live to regret them wides!

Joe McMahon @Bigjoemc1m
Congrats to Dublin 'cute' fouling throughout. Mayo didn't perform to standard set throughout the year. Nw for the end of football #blackcard

Eamonn O Hara @EamonnOHara8
Didn't live up 2 the billing, heart & endeavour shown by both sides well done @DublinGAALive

Diarmuid O'Sullivan @dsully3
Ye attack we attack,proper way to play football ! #allirelandfootballfinal

David Givney @DavidGivney
Like the clare hurlers this dublin team can dominate the championship for the next 5 years. Lets hope not.


Pádraic Maher @podzo21
Why didn't cillian o Connor go for goal.. Dubs deserved it do overall.. Brogan will get mom but Flynn should get it.. #engine


EamonFennell @EamonFennell
It's an absolute privilege to have played with them lads, they epitomise what a role model should be. Well done to Jim & his team #upthedubs


Darran O'Sullivan @Darransull86
Said before the game Brogan to get MOTM,took a bit of stick this year but was the main man today when the occasion got to a few younger lads

Conal keaney @ConalKeaney
Well done too all the lads today great shift put in by all. Enjoy every minute of it #samishome #feelforMayothough

Steven McDonnell @Killeavy13
Congrats to the All Ireland champions Dublin. They have been the most consistent team all year. #SamMaguire2013

St Patrick's Ath @stpatsfc
Congratulations to the Dublin Gaelic footballers. First of many Championships to reside in Dublin this year we hope ;)

Paul Flynn @Flinto23
2 All Ireland's!! Words can't describe the feeling. #Champions

Ciarán Kilkenny @CKKilkenny93
Sam is abhaile!!! Thanks to all my mentors,friends,family & all those who supported us. #Áthcliathabú & Bain taitneamh as na ceiliurí


Michael D Macauley @MDMA_9
And my Mama (and dad) said, there'll be days like this...