THE SAGES who shuffle along the sidelines of Dublin underage football are confident there will at least be a happy group of teenagers gathering in the Burlington Hotel tomorrow night.
The team banquet could yet be a riotous affair, if a Dublin double is captured, but the bookmakers feel only the minors will prevail, by overcoming Tipperary.
The suspicious types and anoraks will not have missed the omens of 1955 and 1984. These were the last Dublin meetings with Tipperary at minor and Kerry at senior in All-Ireland finals. Tipp were downed both times as Kerry took Sam Maguire home.
Of course none of that matters come 1.15pm tomorrow. It is an earlier than usual start for Dublin supporters but the Hill should be fizzling by the time the minors return for the second half.
Dublin could be in control by then. Their confident dismissal of Meath and Cork in comparison to how Tipperary laboured past the same opponents provides the primary evidence.
For Tipperary football, see Dublin hurling. They may be a few seasons behind yet, but Tipp’s minor manager David Power is on record as stating their strategic plan expects to yield an All-Ireland senior title before 2020.
Sounds daft initially, but it becomes apparent that the Tipperary County Board needed to construct a new trophy cabinet for all the football silverware that has been amassed of late.
In 2010 they won provincial titles (in football) at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-21. This year is considered a lull as only the under-14 and minor titles were banked.
All this has been achieved with a single footballing philosophy. The same message is preached because they nailed down their coaching infrastructure a few years ago. John Evans’ fingerprints are everywhere.
Kerry and Cork have clearly taken notice. Not that either could stop the physical wave and neat point-gathering of the current minor side.
Ian Fahey is a beast of a kid and thankfully his dismissal in the semi-final defeat of Roscommon was for two yellow cards. Along with his midfield partner Stephen O’Brien and centre forward Philip Quirke, the equally muscular Dublin middle third can expect a decent wrestling match for possession.
Should they get enough ball inside then Michael Quinlivan, TJ Ryan and Liam McGrath will do plenty of damage. McGrath is a cousin of Noel, the masterful senior hurler.
The only worry is the opposition look the best minor squad to arise from the capital, certainly since the 2003 panel that was beaten in an All-Ireland final replay by Laois.
Many people were unaware that Dessie Farrell has ended many a long and frustrating day of head-banging in committee rooms these past few years to don a tracksuit and assist these aspiring Dubs hone their skills.
The Gaelic Players Association chief seemed to have embraced life as an efficient administrator so it was heartening to learn he has been guiding these cubs since under-14.
And what a group they are. For certain, four of them will be forgiven for being particularly determined come throw-in.
Cormac Costello, Emmett Ó Conghaile, Eric Lowndes and Ciarán Kilkenny, who featured on the losing hurling team against Galway, will not be able to stomach losing a second All-Ireland final in the same month.
Gavin Ivory is another quality forward worth mentioning but it is Kilkenny who looks best equipped to dictate affairs for Dublin. He looks set for a fine football career, providing he doesn’t choose to concentrate on hurling.
A chastising lesson should be handed down to Tipperary, not dissimilar to what the Dublin hurlers have experienced in recent years.
To stand a chance, Tipp must resist what promises to be a sustained early onslaught.
An example: in the opening 14 seconds of their semi-final against Galway, Ó Conghaile caught the throw-in. David Campbell showed for it, laid it off to Costello who presented Scott Fulham with a sight of goal. They already had 1-3 in the can when Galway eventually found their stride and made a decent match of it.
If Tipperary survive the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, doubt could well creep into Dublin’s collective mindset.
It can happen, especially to minors. The weight of history must be ignored, even if 27 years is an awfully long wait for Dublin. But it seems likely Farrell will provide the steadiest of hands to guide this crew to victory, and up the steps of the Hogan Stand.
DUBLIN: tbc
TIPPERARY: E Comerford; N O’Sullivan, J Meagher, C O’Sullivan; C O’Riordan, D Fitzelle, S Kennedy; S O’Brien, I Fahey; G Henry, P Quirke, B Maher; L McGrath, M Quinlivan, TJ Ryan.
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
DUBLIN
Leinster Dublin 4-15 Westmeath 0-8
Leinster S-F Dublin 0-10 Longford 0-5
Leinster F Dublin 2-18 Meath 1-11
All-Ireland Q-F Dublin 1-11 Cork 1-3
All-Ireland S-F Dublin 1-11 Galway 1-9
Average For 1-15
Average Against 0-9
TIPPERARY
Munster Tipperary 1-13 Limerick 0-9
Munster S-F Tipperary 2-12 Kerry 3-8
Munster F Tipperary 3-11 Cork 1-9
All-Ireland Q-F Tipperary 0-11 Meath 0-7
All-Ireland S-F Tipp 1-11 Roscommon 0-12
Average For 1-13
Average Against 0-12
KERRY 1931, 32, 33, 46, 50, 62, 63, 75, 80, 88, 94 10
CORK 1961, 67, 68, 69, 72, 74, 81, 91, 93, 2000
DUBLIN 1930, 45, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 79, 82, 84,
TYRONE 1947, 48, 73, 98, 2001, 04, 08, 10
GALWAY 1952, 60, 70, 76, 86, 2007
MAYO 1935, 53, 66, 71, 78, 85
DERRY 1965, 83, 89, 2002
DOWN 1977, 87, 99, 2005
ROSCOMMON 1939, 41, 51, 2006
LAOIS 1996, 97, 2003
MEATH 1957, 90, 92
CAVAN 1937, 38
LOUTH 1936, 40
ARMAGH 1949, 2009
CLARE 1929
OFFALY 1964
TIPPERARY1934
