Five Things We Learned from the GAA Weekend: Dublin’s league record has hidden depths

Tyrone's Cathal McShane and Brian Fenton of Dublin in action during their Division One NFL game at the weekend in Croke Park. Photograph: Tom Maher/InphoThe league was arguably as remarkable a benchmark for Jim Gavin’s Dublin as the championship. Winning five successive All-Irelands set a new record – extended by Dessie Farrell a year later – and redefined the mythologies of the game.

Yet 12 months later they were back after a first Division Two campaign in 14 years, winning the divisional title and avenging their only regulation defeat – by Derry – in the final.Already, Dublin have adjusted some long running trends. The win over Derry at the start of the month was the county’s first in Celtic Park whereas Sunday’s 21-point romp was the first win in a regulation league match at Croke Park against Tyrone .

They looked like a team that lacked the experience or knowhow when it came to managing the game. They kept doing what they came to do – keeping possession, playing short stick-passes, working the ball through the lines. They looked like a young team dutifully trying to play to the gameplan, forgetting Jim Gavin’s old maxim that no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out, though, because one of Kiely’s defining characteristics has been his conservatism in team selection when the championship comes round. A familiar 15 permed from about 18 players. So, where can they fit him in and how can they leave him out? Has he not served his time? Are there really places up for grabs? Is it time to shake it up? Last Saturday has given Kiely the perfect opportunity to do some interior decorating.Not only did Tyrone succumb to a first divisional league defeat at Croke Park against Dublin but the nature of the defeat had unsettling echoes of the county’s last trip to headquarters.

The final score even had echoes of Sunday, Kerry winning by 2-18 to 0-12 and Dublin just adding three further goals for 5-18 to 0-12.

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