Leinster Council to count the cost of Dubs’ provincial demise

THERE is a cracking scene in Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ where the Peoples’ Front of Judea – or is it the Judean People’s Front? – are plotting the eviction of Julius Caesar and his legions from the Holy Land.

“What have the Romans ever done for us,” asks John Cleese’s militant ringleader, to which the reply is a long and ever more enthusiastic list of civilised advancements ranging all the way from aqueducts to wine.

The lesson? Be careful what you wish for.

So it is in Leinster this week. Dublin’s first provincial football championship defeat in six years will have been celebrated far beyond the confines of Meath on Sunday night, but should it?

On the face of it, the answer is an obvious yes. Laois, Offaly and Westmeath have all suffered under the capital’s yoke in that time, losing finals year after year to a county backed by the vast majority of supporters packed into the vast expanses of Croke Park.

But, while managers and players around the province will be hoping for a more democratic share of the spoils on the pitch, county boards will be forgiven if they feel a distinct chill in the sweltering summer air.

Dublin’s dominance may have been difficult to stomach but the juggernaut built by Paul Caffrey proved to be a cash cow for the game in the province and all 12 counties received a dividend.

Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney has gone on record more than once before to warn of the financial consequences should Dublin experience a decline. His 2007 annual report was particularly clear on the dangers.

“Nowadays, apart from the Dublin games in Croke Park the general public are apathetic about our (provincial) games,” he said at the time. “The frightening thing about this is that if Dublin hit a trough, or go out early, it will have serious financial implications for our Council,” he predicted.

“County boards may not dwell too deeply on all of this but perhaps a word of caution is in order. If the Leinster Council income drops it will have a knock-on effect on games development and physical development support in our counties.”

As the accompanying graph proves, the Leinster Council never had it so good as when the Dubs were reeling off provincial title after provincial title although it seems the figures were already beginning to decline last season.

Croke Park was still in the midst of its redevelopment at the start of the last decade which accounts, partly at least, for attendances of 50-60,000 for finals involving Dublin at the time.

The vast majority of the work was completed by the time Dublin saw off Kildare in 2002, however, and the trend since then is a clear indication of just how big a draw Dublin have been in recent years.

The low point in terms of crowds and a financial return came when Westmeath and Laois met in the 2004 decider but that was offset by the need for a replay which delivered a combined audience of almost 95,000 over the two days.

Meath and Louth should still draw a healthy crowd. Meath are traditionally one of the GAA’s best supported counties and the prospect of a first title in nine years should guarantee a healthy travelling contingent while Louth’s first appearance in 50 years should also generate much interest. The real concern will be if Dublin’s recent travails prove to be the beginning of an extended period in the doldrums and the days of 70-80,000 crowds for the province’s big games become a thing of the past.