Weekend shocks send ripple through provinces

AFTER the turmoil of the Louth saga, romance returned to the football championship again last weekend.

Few could have predicted that Down, Dublin, Cork and Kildare would be the last four standing in this year’s All-Ireland Championship.

But, unpredictability, is one of the great attractions of sport. From the GAA perspective the last four are hugely important. Huge work has gone into promoting the game in Dublin – even when I was president, I chaired a special sub-committee in promoting Gaelic games in the county. It is rare a president would be expected – or probably allowed – chair a sub-committee exclusive to one county. Love them or hate them, we need the Dubs. A successful Dublin team is the best possible promotion for the GAA. Kildare too, has seen a massive population explosion in recent years and it’s important for the GAA to put down firm roots in burgeoning urban areas.