Can Dublin do four-in-a-row? The 2018 numbers come up blue again

Mayo’s stars are clearly not aligned but Dublin’s numbers add up to a completion of the four-in-a-row next season. 

Yes, there is the uber diligence of Jim Gavin and the talent of this great group of players to consider but there are other factors in their favour too for next year’s restructured All-Ireland senior football championship.

2 – Dublin face an extra two games to be crowned All-Ireland champions again in 2018, providing they win an eighth consecutive Leinster title. If they do take the direct route, they will play seven games to reach an All-Ireland final. That’s one more than Cork or Kerry’s shortest route — both have byes to separate Munster semi-finals — and it’s one less than the unfortunate teams draw in the preliminary round of Ulster.