Tommy Martin: Barbarians at the gates amid decline and fall of Dublin empire 

Their imperial pomp has passed and the noble savages are taking over

MARCUS AURELIUS: Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Dublin and Meath at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Many people are using the concept of fallen empire to talk about the plight of the once mighty Dublin senior footballers, mainly because the Leinster Championship has been a bit like the old Christians and lions routine for the past 15 years.

We all remember the scene. How the citizens of the imperial capital would cheer as another band of frightened, say, Longford men were prodded into the Croke Park colosseum. A hush would descend as the cages were opened and out would come the growling Small brothers, not fed in a week. Emperor Jim Gavin would give the down-turned thumb and the blood would spatter the faces of the senators in the Hogan Stand.