Dublin Football - possible cure in sight?
Dr Pat Duggan has been a Kilmacud Crokes stalwart for over three decades. A holder of 2 All Ireland club medals and numerous other awards, his reasoned views are always worth listening to. Pat has had a deep and ongoing involvement at the coal face of Dublin football, from U15 club teams right up to Senior and onwards to the Dublin inter-county scene. He's done it all and still manages to exude a passion for GAA that few can match.
Pat's prognosis on the current Dublin GAA situation has caused a stir within the GAA community (reproduced below). Following the latest setback, the "Tyrone massacre", few will argue that it's time to confront the malaise that afflicts football in the capital with honesty and courage. Who better to kick-start the debate than 'Doc'?
In this recently published article, Pat pulls no puches! He provides a frank and factual assessment of the reasons for the poor health of football in the capital. Uniquely, and not for the first time, he also prescribes (at least some of) the medicine required.
Surely, it's time for all involved to listen, to confront the challenge and implement radical change. Have your say: click on the 'Submit News' menu option to get your (constructive) views into the mix. Don't wait .... do it now; let the rehab begin ........!
Having been involved in the Dublin club/countyscene for the past twenty five years in many roles from mentor/manager,administrator to medical officer I wish to outline my thoughts on where Dublin football is at the moment.
One senior football All Ireland in twenty five years together with minimal success at U21 and minor in recent years points to a critical situation.
Having been involved in a medical capacity with most of the management teams over the past twenty five years I can only say the level of professionalism by all of them is second to none.
So let us be clear on one thing. The problem with Dublin football does not lie in the quality of the management teams.
The following therefore are possible reasons and potential solutions in relation to various contributing factors to the present crisis.
1. A lack of fixtures at U16, U17 and U18
The truth of the matter is that at U17/U18 level most footballers in Dublin play a maximum of 8-10 meaningful competitive games in a year. The situation in hurling is probably even worse.
By meaningful competitive I mean closely contested intense affairs. The county board try and camouflage this buthaving been involved in underage football for many years they are the FACTS.
As of September 1st Kilmacud are Division 1 league champions of Dublin!!
How many matches have they played? .... wait for it..... 6!!!!
Cuala have only played the some total of 4!!
At U16 however thingsare even worse.
The U16 football championship starts in mid February, so by the middle of February half of the U16 football teams in Dublin are out of the championship. The county board pride themselves on thefact that they have the U16 championship completed by St. Patrick's Day.
Again having been involved in this age group (with in fact a team that won a championship), let me tell you that no meaningful football of any consequence takes place in Dublin at U16 level from mid March on and indeed for many teams from mid February on.
Once a team is beaten in the championship and lose a few league games interest wanes.
League games are fixed on a reasonably regular basis but many are never played.
As of September 1st most teams have played 6-8 games.
Three years ago, the great St. Vincent's club did not field a team in league football at U16, after they were beaten inthe championship semi final at the beginning of March.
So in essence during the three most important years of their lives, U16,U17 and U18, boys in Dublinare playing a minimum number of actual competitive games.
Action:
For the development of football it is imperative that our boys at 16, 17 and 18 play a minimum of 25 competitive fixtures a year.
2. Lack of Leadership
It has been fashionable in the newspapers over the last few days and indeed over the last five years to highlight "lack of leadership among our senior inter county footballers".
Coincidentally of major interest to us involved in club football, is the alarming fact that many of our senior inter county players also have a poor record in terms of showing leadership in their clubs. Not alone do many not provide any leadership, but some in fact are the most difficult players to manage at club level. If players don't have a natural want to perform with their clubs then I question whether they have the mentality to show leadership at inter county level.
It is incredible that so many inter county Dublin footballers, when they are beaten in the All Ireland series decide to go on holidays, when in fact they should be preparing with their clubs for the county championships. Some have actually missed championship games for the same reason.
However, the culture at inter county level, over the last ten years, has been that the county team almost takes ownership of these players and almost drives them away from their clubs.
Players prepare for the inter county championship by a never ending diet of repetitive training matches within the panel where the players inevitably are marking the same players week in week out.
Action:
Allow county players to playall league matches with their clubs.
In my opinion, putting our inter county players out against somewhat unknown opposition at club level, is much more mentally demanding and requires much more leadership that training matches, up against the same player week in week out.
It would be wonderful to think that the incoming manager of the Dublin team, would pick his panel not solely on talent, but based on how players perform with their clubs, in the club championship over the next two months.
That is how they will find the "leaders"for next year.
Leadership starts with the club. County management should encourage this concept and judge players onleadership qualities shown at club level.
Allow county players to train one night a week with their clubs.
The standard of management at senior club level is very high.
To allow county players to train with their clubs would add novelty,variety and in many cases would be beneficial.
3. Chairman of the County Board
The fact that the chairman of the county board has to face election every year, means that his decisions, on a week to week basis, inevitably have to be flavoured by the fact that he has to seek election. This leads to a lack of leadership i.e. making hard decisions and this has been a problem in Dublin for many years.
Action:
Chairman of the Dublin County Board should be for a 3-5 year period.
In that context leadership decisions should be made without having fear of facing the electorate a few months later.
4. Where does the power lie at county board level?
Junior clubs have an enormous say politically at Dublin county board level. Sadly over the last number of years an "anti big club bias" has developed.
In my opinion this is not healthy in the context that most of our inter-county players at the end of the day come from the big clubs
Action:
The senior clubs in Dublin should have more say in the decision making process particularly in the context of the running of the senior league and championship.
5. Administration
Good administrators are rare.
Most, in any county, are zealously held onto by their clubs.
Action:
Have six serious paid administrators to run Dublinfootball ensuring that all decision-making processes are under their control.
6. Duality
Over the last ten years, enormous resources have been put into hurling in Dublin.
Whether this is in fact achieving any progress at senior level remains in doubt but what it does mean is that hurling and football are equally strong in Dublinat the moment.
In fact many would believe that administration at hurling level is in fact stronger that football.
What it means however is that every talented young boy in every one of the big clubs in Dublin is now a dual player.
Is it surprising that most of the counties who are now successful at intercounty football and hurling have one dominant sport, to the virtual elimination of the other sport in the county?
To be successful, certainly in hurling, Dublin needs to look at producing players of the quality of Henry Shefflin, D.J Carey and Ben O'Connor. Many of the current Dublin senior hurling team have in fact spent much of their underage career playing football. Most people would believe that the ball skills exhibited by the Tyrone players last Saturday were way superior to those of the Dublin footballers.
I ask how much has this to do with the fact that many of the Dublin players spent a significant part of their underage career playing alternative codes and therefore had less time to develop their skills.
If you play two games then you can only practice the skills of one 50% of the time. This recipe will not produce elite intercounty footballers or hurlers.
Action:
I believe that we have toplay hurling and football every weekend on alternative Saturdays/Sundays starting at U13 level.
In that context we would;
(i) Give our young players an opportunity to play twenty five football or twenty five hurling games a year, which is imperative in terms of their overall development.
(ii) It would make it more difficult for young boys to play both codes and inevitably they would make a decision earlier to concentrate on one game.
This I think would be to everybody's benefit.
7. Size of Panel
Many traditionally are part of the Dublin panel for the "buzz" only.
They have no ambition or realistic chance of ever playing or winning championship football, but they are happy to go along for the "fringe benefits"
Action:
Limit Dublinpanel to 24.
8. Drills
With the recent introduction of "qualified coaches" who incidentally charge "quality fees" DRILLS have to become the order of the day.
"DRILLS" however by definition are primarily uni-directional and repetitive and do not replicate the real thing.
They may be beneficial to hand eye coordination but remember there is a school of thought that suggests that hand eye coordination development is limited over the age of 13.
Action:
GAMES! GAMES! GAMES!
As Robbie Kelleher once famously said "I learned to play football by playing football".
Summary
- As long as our young boys play as little as 8-10 games of meaningful football during the ages of 16, 17 and 18 we have no possibility of producing top class inter county talent. The same applies in hurling.
- As long as we have administrators who have allowed this to happen for many years we have no hope!
- The problem can never be dealt with until we play football and hurling every week.
- Our inter county players should play 10-12 league games a year with their clubs. Those that are leaders at club level have the potential to lead at county level. Those who do not lead at club level will never lead at county level.
Many will disagree with much of the above.
However if it can generate meaningful constructive debate Dublin football might benefit!