Championships this century have produced more repeat success than ever before but at a cost to worthwhile novelty
Television magnifies big events and understates the smaller ones. In Carlow on Saturday evening, there was support for the generalisation. In chilly, drizzly weather, Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes imposed their logic on Éire Óg for a win that never looked in jeopardy.
There have been acts of defiance like Mullinalaghta’s defeat of Kilmacud in the 2018 Leinster final and Éire Óg’s running Ballyboden uncomfortably close the following year but reality points to Dublin clubs having won eight of the last 10 titles and 11 of the last 15.Tullamore player and official face proposed 96 and 48-week bans
For a long time, only UCD and St Finbarr’s had managed to retain football All-Ireland’s and for 40 years the only clubs who did it in hurling were Galway teams, who had a largely uncontested provincial championship. Provincial championships are also becoming more restrictive in their range of winners. Take the rolls of honour in the four provinces – they are generally topped by clubs that have generated the bulk of their successes in the two decades of this century.
One of the most obvious challenges was how to negotiate over Christmas and the New Year the two-month gap between winning a provincial championship and competing in the All-Ireland series. The gruelling schedule was for years a major factor in club teams not being able to replicate success.Ballygunner are perennial winners in Waterford. Photograph:Inpho/Ryan Byrne
The top three on the province’s football roll of honour – Nemo Rangers, Dr Crokes and St Finbarr’s – have won 15 of this century’s 22 titles.
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