Players must be recompensed, says leader of Dublin fan club
But Joe Nugent is taking it all in his stride ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Armagh.
But he never once forgets the most important factor, the force that transforms Jones Road into a blue wave of humanity week in week out. And he thinks their importance should be recognised by many more.
"The counties should be getting something out if definitely," Nugent said yesterday. "I would support that view. It's not all about money either, but the counties involved should be recognised in some way for what they are bringing in for the GAA and any money they would get would be used in helping the game in the county."
Nugent also backs the view that the day has long since passed when players gave so much time and effort without considering adequate recompense.
"It must be very hard for players to see their images used to promote and market these games. It's all being done off their backs and they are getting nothing out of it. It doesn't seem right and I can understand them being annoyed about it.
"Players are looked after fairly well by the county board (in Dublin), but it isn't enough just getting the bare expenses for their efforts. I was at the training session on Tuesday and those lads were all there at 5.30pm.
"For a normal person, that's a huge investment of time. That's all Dessie Farrell is saying and I would support him 100% on that. Players can't be put in a situation where they are losing time and money without getting anything back."
Many feel the GAA's failure to address the issue is resulting in players leaving gaelic games prematurely. Graham Geraghty and Brian Corcoran are just two of the most high profile examples from either code who have called time on inter-county careers long before the wear and tear forced them to hang up their boots. The problem will only get worse according to the Dubliner.
"Not one of the players who started for Dublin against Meath this year were married. Dessie Farrell will be the only guy who isn't single who starts against Armagh on Sunday. What does that say? It's increasingly becoming a game for lads in their early 20s because lads with families just can't give the time that is required.
"We will have five U-21s playing at the weekend it's a young man's game. It's a sign of the way things have gone that we now have lads in their mid-twenties quitting the game because they can't put in the time.
Nugent is also critical of Dublin's ticket allocation for Sunday's game. Having had 45,000 tickets for the Donegal replay, the Dubs will have only half that for this weekend with the added disappointment of having to share their beloved Hill 16 with Armagh, Derry and Longford supporters.
On the plus side, Dublin's success on the field would seem to have dealt a killer blow to the SRC's recommendation on splitting the city in two. But Nugent doesn't feel the split proposal is taking it's dying breath just yet.
"Where the Strategic Report Commission comes home to roost is that there are only 22,000 tickets available for people in Dublin. If they want to promote gaelic games in Dublin the best way to do it is to get as many people from the city and county into Croke Park to see that game on Sunday.
"Nobody is saying we want 79,000 tickets for the game, but when you take the fact that Armagh have only got around 20,000 tickets as well, that's not enough for the two senior teams playing in an All-Ireland semi-final. There's something very wrong with that.
"I believe that the Special Congress is going ahead in October and although it's hard to believe, especially after the team's success this year, there are still people within the GAA who want to see this area of the SRC adopted. I haven't seen the motion yet, but I will be very interested to see it as soon as possible. As long as this proposal is still on the table, we will fight it all the way until it's dropped once and for all.
As for Sunday's game, Nugent isn't as full of bravado as many of his countymen. "I'm actually very nervous. The kind of game Armagh like to play is very defensive and Dublin may have a good few problems unlocking it. There's far too much talk about a Dublin/Kerry final and I don't like that," he said.
"Dublin are good enough to beat Armagh and having seen their lads playing down here in the county championship, I know that they are very good players. A team with Oisin McConville taking frees will be hard to beat and Dublin will need to play like they did in the replay against Donegal to win. If they play like they did the first day they'll be beaten."
The GAA has also confirmed next Sunday's clash between Armagh and Dublin is a total sell out. An attendance in excess of 79,000 is anticipated and there will be no further tickets available from any source other than a GAA club.
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