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NATIONAL FOOTBALL & HURLING LEAGUE PREVIEW 2003

Football - Feb 2 - Armagh (home), Feb 9 - Donegal (away), Feb 16 - Tyrone (home), Mar 2 - Kerry (away), Mar 8 - Cork (home), Mar 22 - Roscommon (away), Apr 16 - Galway (home).

Hurling - Feb 23 - Galway (away), Mar 8 - Clare (home), Mar 16 - Waterford (away), Mar 22 - Laois (home), Mar 30 - Kilkenny (home), Round 2 to be announced at a later date.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2002

Dublin lived dangerously v Galway in the last game of the league campaign as only a second half recovery saved a point from the clutches of the All-Ireland Champions. As Cork were beating Tyrone and Westmeath were struggling with Offaly it seemed for a time as if the Dubs were going to be relegated. But the comeback reaped a handsome reward and instead Dublin can look forward to more top flight action next year. It’s been an enjoyable league and even though we slipped to some uninspiring losses new talent has emerged. Dublin’s best win was against Donegal who finished just out of the qualifiers while a point dropped to Offaly and a narrow loss to Tyrone and Roscommon cost us the qualifying place.

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE 2002

Once in a while Dublin Hurling claims a major scalp and talk turns to the imminent revival in fortunes. Dublin's win v Waterford was a great victory for the Dubs and whatever happens now it's been a good league! Meath provide the next opposition and further progress can be expected here before the next round of big guns (starting back in Parnell Park). Any further wins would constitute enormous boosts for hurling in the capital ahead of the first 'second chance' championship ever.

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE 2001

Catastrophic start to the Hurling League as we fall to the humble hurling power of Meath and then the traditional might of Galway. But a good win over antrim managed to pull us onto 2 points and drag the glen men into the relegation area. The last round of games on April22nd will decide our fate but relegation is still a major concern.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2000/2001

Scroll down for Game Reports, League Fixtures and information on last Year's Football and Hurling league.

THE FOOTBALL POSITION:

Galway 11 pts
Tyrone 10pts
Roscommon 6pts
Donegal 5pts
Offaly 4pts
Dublin 4 pts
Kerry 4pts -15
Louth 2pts

Foot and Mouth played havoc with Division 1 A as firstly Louth were pulled out and on the eve of the final round - tyrone. The O'Neill men had by then qualified for the semi's and were most unfortunate to be cast out. So Galway and roscommon go through to meet fellow Connacht counties and Kerry and Donegal or Louth go down for next year.

GAME REPORTS

DUBLIN LIFELESS IN SECOND DEFEAT. DUBLIN 0-09 OFFALY 1-10

In all probability Dublin played out their last match of 2001in a listless and leaderless way. The league has already become a damage limitation exercise and the Dubs will need some New Year improvement to avoid the spectre of relegation.

The Dublin outfit that took the field in Tullamore yesterday was a very experimental side and not too much should be read into the defeat and comfort can be gleaned from Kildare, Meath and Louth who all lost their league matches.

Dublin’s first half was a shambles. 7 minutes into the game and Offaly had launched tehmselves 4 points clear after a long range score from McManus and an opportunistic goal be Edenderry star Basil Malone. Not long thereafter Offaly were further ahead as Dublin battled vainly against the wind and a more determined opposition. In fact the Dubs only scored once in the first period – a McCarthy free. It was a false dawn and Offaly went in at the break 1-08 to 0-1 up.

Such was the lead that the Dublin comeback when it came was something to be admired. Paul Curran’s entrance made a difference and Robertson also was to create problems when introduced for the second half. Dublin began to dominate possession but extreme wastfulness up front – Murphy at fault on one occasion – cost Dublin any chance of a share of spoils. Offaly in truth were nearly as bad as we hace been and only raised 2 white flags in the second half. Dublin’s 8 points in this period were contributed by McCarthy, Christie, Robertson and O’Donoghue. It was Offaly’s goal that always contributed the cushion and Offaly’s 5 point purple patch in the last 15 minutes of the first half sealed it for them.

Dublin will claim that they were missing many of their stars but Offaly lost no fewer than 3 regukars before the game and both midfielders during it. These were sorely missed by the time Dublin were in ascendancy. Offaly did deserve this victory and many of their contingent p[layed excellently – particularly Slattery and Daly in defence. For the Dubs O’Donoghue is building his reputation, Andrews was magnificent. Also McCarthy though slight is trustworthy with frees and his overall play is improving.

Assuming Kerry succeed in putting off the clash with Dublin it’s 2 whole months before the Dubs play again. With the Na Fianna boys possibly available and others on the way back to the squad we will then get a true sense of the teams growth. The road ahead is tough before the Leinster Championship opener against Louth (probably) and there’s plenty of learning to be done on the road to Tralee, Roscommon and Ballybofey.

DUBLIN 2-10 TYRONE 0-19

Has a League campaign ever started so brightly? Has a bright start ever floundered so badly? Dublin’s goal in the first 90 seconds of the 2000/2001 League campaign was an excellent score but was all too soon forgotten as Dublin lost a game they could have won and Tyrone did as they deserved to – took the points.

Dublin can take consolation in the fact that the list of regulars unavailable to play was as long as the League’s Christmas break. The forward unit was always going to find it difficult to rise to a standard demanded by Dublin fans and struggle they did. Tyrone too however were without many of their stars and it was strength in depth that told for them. The underage accomplishments of Tyrone GAA in particular has bred an exciting mix of players who compensated for some glaring omissions from the team sheet.

No sooner had 6000 patrons taken their seats in Parnell Park but O’Donoghue had scored Dublin’s first goal. This score set the Dubs up for a half time lead of 2-05 to 0-9. Homan got in for Dublin’s second goal after a weak Wayne McCarthy free was fumbled uncharacteristically by McConnell in the Tyrone goal. Despite the interval lead though it was clear that Dublin needed to keep scoring goals to stay ahead – Tyrone had outscored us 9-7 in the first half and were linking up well. To bolster confidence Tyrone lost Chris Lawn late in the first half after he was seen striking Vinny Murphy off the ball.

Tyrone came out with more steel in defence and determined to hold the Dubs at bay. We enjoyed one more period of dominance after the northerners drew level with less than 20 minutes to go. Magee, McCarthy and Murphy all scored to put us 3 points clear with 10 minutes to go. Then strangely but not for the first time we folded. Tyrone scored the next 6 points and went away deserving winners.

For Tyrone Steven O’Neill was magnificent and Mc Anallen superb. For Dublin Peadar Andrews battled bravely and Murphy was the only forward to make an impact. Tom Carr didn’t play the extra man to any effect but afterward told those gathered that the league was insignificant in Dublin’s plans this year. Would he have said that had we won?

LEAGUE FIXTURES 2000/2001

The new league starts October 29th with a clash with Tyrone. The Ulster men won this encounter well last year (also first game) and a win is vital to get us under way in a winning fashion. Our next 2 games are away from home, firstly promoted Offaly, victors against Meath will prove tough in Birr - expect more jeers against Curran but hopefully a repeat of the excellent performance we put in at this venue 2 years ago. Then a trip way down to Killarney (scene of Jayo's first Dublin goal) for a tilt at the Kingdom. Who knows there may be a glimpse of Sam too! After Christmas we host Roscommon. This is a must win game too if we are to hope for the knock-outs given that we can excuse a couple of dropped points against the likes of Kerry or Galway. Donegal away is never easy particularly in the narrow confines of Balybofey. Plus they'll be gunning to revenge this years defeat at Parnell Park. The second last game v Galway should be a cracker and both teams will probably see their chances die if they lose this one. Louth then will finish the series.

The Full Rundown

Dublin v Tyrone 29/10
Offaly v Dublin 12/11
Kerry v Dublin 26/11
Dublin v Roscommon
Donegal v Dublin
Dublin v Galway
Louth v Dublin

FINISHING SITUATION 1999/2000

HURLING - The Group of Death lived up to it's billing. Really Dublin were struggling after losing one game and out by the third match. Dublin sat out the first round but hammered Kerry on their opener by 3-24 to 3-07. A narrow defeat against Galway was promising but meant that Dublin had to win all their remaining games to qualfy in a "no margin for error" group. We did scramble a win against Antrim but an abysmal effort in Limerick scuppered our ambitions. After 3 games the league was over for all teams as a contest. Galway and Limerick would go through, Antrim and Kerry go down. Against this backdrop we lost our penultimate game to Clare by 10 points and Offaly in the final edition. Dublin finished 5th but in truth interest had moved on to the Championship by mid March.

FOOTBALL - Kerry claimed topspot early and despite a loss to Galway go through to play Meath. Dublin defeated Cork in their last game to continue a very strong finishing run to their league. However Roscommon had stolen a march on the Dubs in February in Roscommon and kept their heads to deny Dublin a semi place. Roscommon play Derry in the other knock out match. Galway, who started the league brightly paid for some new Millennium hick -ups and finished in fourth. Meanwhile The league champions and the Ulster Champions slip down divisions for next year.

Kerry ---- 10 (+40 scored)
Roscommon---- 10 (+10 scored)
Dublin---- 10 (+2 scored)
Galway---- 9 (+15 scored)
Donegal---- 5 (-5 scored)
Tyrone---- 5 (-20 scored)
Armagh---- 4 (-12 scored)
Cork---- 3 (-27 scored)

Dublin 2-15 Galway 0-20 ; March 18th 2000

This was an absorbing contest rendered more enjoyable by the sheer Championship flavour. After all and just like a championship match Dublin had to win to keep survival hopes in the league alive. The fact that Dublin did survive against tough opposition who also could ill afford defeat was heartening in the extreme.

Apart from (and maybe because of) the significance this was a thoroughly enjoyable game. The first half was fairly evenly contested. The highlight came when Davy Byrne dived and saved a Joyce Penalty attempt that would have put the Westerners 5 points clear. Galway were marginally the better team at this stage but shortly after a Colin Moran fisted goal pushed Dublin into a single point lead by halftime.

Paul Curran was having a great game – his best in many encounters and a sign that perhaps he is returning to match winning form at this crucial time of year. Darcy, Whelan, Gavin and a rejuvenated Farrell were great up front while Christie was solid in rear. Other aspects of the defence were stretched by Galway and particularly Derek Savage, but this is perhaps the best attack in the land.

On the resumption Dublin’s lead was quickly cancelled out by a Joyce free. For the next 20 minutes the sides traded regular scores – the accuracy throughout the afternoon was high class. Suddenly the Galway attack strung a couple of scores together and Dublin were 2 behind. To add to the woes with barely 10 minutes to go Galway were awarded their second penalty. The opportunity had arisen for Byrne to save 2 penalties in a league game for the second time in 3 months but Joyce was having none of it. In what seemed a sensible option the tribesman kicked over the bar to put 3 between the teams.

Joyce’s decision was a bad one. Darcy popped one over to reduce the deficit before Whelan got on the end of a good move and finished to the net to clinch victory for the Dubs.

It was a brilliant climax to a game that seemed beyond on us only minutes before and so conrtined a great bank Holiday weekend in Galway.

5th March 2000. - Dublin 1:11 Donegal 0:11

Dublin's first home game of the first Millennium proved to be just the response required to answer the questions raised in Roscommon. This was by no means a great performance in spring sunshine, but it did show a lot of promise and spirit. Dublin seemed to struggle for the first period but opened up in the first 5 minutes of the second half to score 1:02 and leave Donegal reeling.

Donegal are always a difficult prospect in the league but particularly up in Ballybofey or Ballyshannon. In Parnell Park once Dublin went ahead they always looked like winning. Ciaran Whelan was superb in the latter stages and must be Dublin's most consistent player at present. Solid performances were delivered also by many - of note Jonathon McGee, Jason Ward on his debut and Shane Ryan.

The pivotal moment came shortly after the restart. An intercepted ball was picked up by Darcy whose looping pass into Brian Stynes was inspirational. A flick by Stynes to Moran was finished to the net with style. This goal was sandwiched by 3 well taken Jim Gavin frees and Dublin had turned a 2 point deficit into a 4 point lead. The Dubs had scored a quarter of their total scores in 5 minutes. Donegal were in danger at this stage of being swept away. Whether Dublin took the foot off the gas or as a